Authorities call on U.N. members to comply with Arms Trade Treaty

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Vice Minister of Security, Fiorella Salazar Rojas, gave a speech before the Conference of the States Parties to the Arms Trade Treaty, which is taking place at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

"Today we know conflicts have changed. Most conflicts today take the lives of many humans are essentially local, not international. The main victims of this violence are civilians and not the military."

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this week the United Nations analyzed how new technologies and artificial intelligence systems, known as unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, will have an impact on weapons applied to war.

The country's position in this regard is that "any technological development applicable to war, must maintain the principle of state and individual responsibility in the use of force, and must maintain significant human control over technology and its use" said the Ministry in its statement. "Under no circumstances can human judgment be substituted for machines when making decisions which involve the use of lethal force."

According to the Ministry, the country is in favor of control standards for autonomous weapons systems, and the preventive prohibition of unmanned combat aerial vehicles.

The United Nations Arms Trade Treaty regulates the international trade in conventional arms, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships. It was enacted on December 24th, 2014.

In addition, the Vice-Minister voted in favor of the Human Rights of Women, "for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women," she said.

According to a 2013 global review of the United Nations, 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual partner violence or non-partner sexual violence.

"However, some national violence studies show that up to 70 percent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime from an intimate partner," said the Women U.N. in its statement.

The organization's goal to address violence against women effectively. A comprehensive approach is needed involving a wide range of actions. It must cover the development of laws and policies, prevention and support services, changing the norms and behavior of men, boys, as well as include data collection and research.





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Should unmanned aerial weapons or drones be allowed in combat? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com

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