India’s Explanation of Vote (POST-VOTING)
Conventional Weapons Cluster
79 UNGA First Committee, UNHQ, New York, November 2024
L.77- Resolution on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems
India has abstained on the resolution L.77.
India believes that the GGE on LAWS of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) is addressing the full range of challenges and concerns relating to LAWS in a comprehensive and inclusive manner. The CCW is the appropriate forum to discuss issues relating to lethal autonomous weapons systems with a view to striking a balance between military necessity and humanitarian imperatives.
Parallel mandates and processes on lethal autonomous weapons systems also amount to a duplication of efforts and resources. India has therefore abstained on OP7 and OP9.
A substantial body of work has been done and continues to be done by the GGE of the CCW on Emerging Technologies in the area of LAWS. This work needs to be built upon in the direction of developing common understandings, particularly on definitions and on the characterization of lethal autonomous weapons systems.
Broadening the scope of possible understandings, beyond emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons, including by referencing contentious concepts on which there is no agreement, will be counterproductive. India has therefore voted against PP4.
India has also voted against PP2 because the application of International Human Rights Law and International Criminal Law do not fall under the subject matter of this Committee.
L.30: Implementation of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction
India has abstained on L.30.
India supports the vision of a world free of anti-personnel landmines and is committed to their eventual elimination. The availability of militarily effective alternative technologies that can perform, cost effectively, the legitimate defensive role of anti-personnel landmines will considerably facilitate the goal of the complete elimination of anti-personnel mines. India is a High Contracting Party to AP-II of the CCW which enshrines the approach of taking into account the legitimate defense requirements of States, especially those with long borders.
India has fulfilled its obligations under AP-II including inter alia stopping the production of non-detectable mines as well as rendering all our anti-personnel mines detectable. India is observing a moratorium on the export and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
We have taken a number of measures to address humanitarian concerns arising from the use of anti-personnel landmines, in accordance with International Humanitarian Law.
India remains committed to increased international cooperation and assistance for mine clearance as well as rehabilitation of mine-victims and has been contributing technical assistance and expertise to this end.
India also regularly participates as an Observer at the Meetings of States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.
L.60: The Arms Trade Treaty
India has abstained on the resolution L.60.
India has established strong and effective national export controls with respect to export of defense items. India subscribes to the objective of the ATT and our export control system meets those objectives.
As part of our commitment to international transparency measures, India submits an annual report under the United Nations Register on Conventional Arms for the same categories of conventional arms that are regulated under the ATT. Our commitment is also reflected in India’s participation in Wassenaar Arrangement.
India continues to keep the ATT under review from the perspective of our defense, security and foreign policy interests.
India has abstained on the Preambular Para 11, because the extract drawn from A/Res/79/1 deals with matters which do not strictly fall with in the purview of this Committee.
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