Campaign to stop “killer robots” launched in Cameroon

The aim of the exercise is to engage state authorities to sign an undertaking against the development of the robots

The campaign to stop killer robots launched in Cameroon Monday May 14, 2018 came at a time when the circulation of weapons in the country is uncontrollable, and also at a time when the production of weapons by the Western World has evolved in technology.

It is true that killer robots have not been fully developed and put in use but the dangers of the weapon remain.

That is why the women’s international league for peace and freedom in collaboration with some nine Non Governmental Organizations chose to tackle the situation before it gets out of hand.

According to the communication officer of the disarmament programme at the women’s international league for peace and freedom, Guy Blaise Feugap, killer robots are tiny advanced technology weapons developed to attack, select and kill specific targets from any part of the universe without human intervention. It just need proper programming with the aid of a digital device.

The consequences and dangers of this new weapon is that it kills without control and once launched, even the producer can not contain it. It kills at random and without mercy and is capable of destroying a whole nation depending on how it is programmed, Guy Feugap continued.

The objective of the campaign is first of all to inform and sensitize the public (civil society organizations and the media) of the phenomenon of killer robots and to lobby so that the government of Cameroon can join it voice to other nations to condemn the production and ban the circulation or use of killer robots.

The organisers expect that by the end of August or early November, Cameroon should have joined the other nations.

It should be noted that over 26 countries worldwide have already given their word in support of the campaign and saying “NO” to killer robots.

Among the nations are African countries like Egypt, Algerian, Ghana just to name but these.

Human Rights Watch and other international rights organizations have also strongly condemned the production and distribution of the autonomous weapons.

The weapons are not produced in Africa buy African countries fear that the devastating effects of the weapons could be felt on the continent if proper counter measures are not taken.

It is even envisaged that this year 2018 another joint protocol agreement, the 6th can be signed by all the nations that have adhered to the campaign, or better still a joint declaration can be issued to that effect.

The year 2018 marks exactly five years since the campaign to stop killer robots was launched.

At the end of the day, the vision is the move investments from war related issues to peace related issues.