Africa-Press – Mauritius. Botswana is among countries that is due to receive a petition to ban the production of lethal autonomous weapons. At its meeting held recently, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa’s has resolved to draft a petition asking Botswana to prohibit the development, production and use of lethal autonomous weapon systems also known as killer robots.
In a statement, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa said keeping with its stance, which support the banning of the production of lethal autonomous weapons (Killer Robots) a resolution was passed as follows: “At the Methodist Church of Southern Africa’s hybrid zoom/physical Connexional Executive (CE), a resolution was passed calling for the ban of the production of autonomous weapons.
Noting the lead that the Namibia Government has taken calling for the ban for autonomous weapons (“killer robots), Conference urges all countries in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa Connexion to join this call.
The conference therefore asks the Presiding Bishop to: Write directly to the Governments of Botswana; Lesotho; Mozambique; South Africa and eSwatini and to our ecumenical councils of Churches within our Connexion urging them to advocate that their respective governments join this call for the ban on autonomous weapons.
“The Presiding Bishop has carried out this Conference Directive as per a above. Aside from Namibia and an ambiguous response from the South Africa Government, the other countries are slow in coming forward,” the statement says.
Saying the Struggle continues, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa invited “all to join a stenciling campaign on 3 October 2023” adding that “We will go to 4 different spots.
We will start at the Constitutional Hill (9am), then go to Mandela Bridge, Ghandi Square and end at Maboneng. ” Methodist Church of Southern Africa attached a statement which provided some background on the campaign. As well as the brief on the day what will happen.
According to the statement crucial resolution vote against killer robots at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this October-historic opportunity for states to take a stand for humanity and set a course for new international law.
“Artificial Intelligence and automated technologies are developing rapidly and weapons with autonomous functions are reported as being used in conflict. Autonomous weapons raise profound legal, ethical, humanitarian and security challenges.
The dehumanization and killing of people by Artificial Intelligence technologies in military contexts is unacceptable and will have terrible consequences in policing, border control and wider society,” the statement says.
“An organisation was expected to paint with washable paint using a stencil and write “VOTE AGAINST THE MACHINE” the message is directed to the South African government to support the resolution calling for negotiations to draft an international instrument to regulate KILLER ROBOTS,” the church said.
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