The Humanitarian Impact of Autonomous Weapons on Women and Youth: An Approach from Resolutions 1325 and 2250

by Anne Cuadros

The United Nations (UN) Disarmament Week, observed from 24–30 October, seeks to promote awareness and better understanding of disarmament issues and their cross-cutting importance. Young people have an important role to play in the promotion of disarmament as a method to protect people from harm and to build safer and more peaceful societies.

In honour of this important week, members of the Stop Killer Robots Youth Network were asked to share their thoughts on the themes of disarmament and autonomous weapons systems. Disclaimer: The blogs in this series do not necessarily constitute the opinions of Stop Killer Robots, nor should they be considered the opinions and views of all Stop Killer Robots members.

The rapid advancement and development of autonomous weapons have raised significant humanitarian concerns. These systems, capable of selecting and attacking targets without human control, challenge existing norms of warfare and pose questions about their implications for human rights and international law. Among the groups most vulnerable to the effects of these technologies are women and youth, whose experiences and needs in conflict contexts are already unique but, in many cases, are largely ignored. In this context, the principles established in Resolutions 1325 and 2250 of the United Nations Security Council provide crucial frameworks for understanding and addressing the humanitarian impacts of autonomous weapons on these groups.

Functions of Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 2250

Resolution 1325, adopted in the year 2000, was groundbreaking in recognizing the disproportionate impact of conflicts on women and girls. It emphasizes the importance of women’s participation in peace processes, conflict prevention, and decision-making, while also highlighting the need to protect women and girls from gender-based violence during and after armed conflicts.

Similarly, and more recently, Resolution 2250, adopted in 2015, focuses on the role of youth in maintaining international peace and security. It recognizes that young people, especially young men and women, are not only victims of conflicts but also active agents in preventing violence and building peace.

The Gender Impact

In many conflict zones, women often face gender-based violence, displacement, and the destruction of their livelihoods. Autonomous weapons would exacerbate these issues by lacking human judgment, which in some cases could prevent unnecessary suffering. These weapons lack judgment, empathy, or decision-making ability, potentially leading to indiscriminate attacks that disproportionately affect the civilian population, particularly women and girls.

For example, in many conflict areas, women are the primary caregivers, playing a vital role in humanitarian assistance, supporting hospitals or schools. If autonomous weapons are designed to target humans, they may not adequately distinguish between military and civilian targets, increasing harm to vulnerable populations, including women who already face additional risks in conflict situations.

Such events and risks may lead to an increase in the exclusion of women from peace negotiations and decision-making processes. As warfare becomes more reliant on technology, the space for women’s participation, already marginalized in military and defense sectors, could be further reduced, undermining the commitments established in Resolution 1325 to enhance women’s roles in peacebuilding.

The Impact on Youth

Youth, especially in conflict-affected regions, face specific vulnerabilities that are likely exacerbated by the use of autonomous weapons. Young people are often disproportionately affected by displacement, forced recruitment, and lack of access to education and employment during conflicts. Autonomous weapons could enable conflicting parties to prolong or intensify violence without the need for large numbers of human soldiers, potentially leading to longer conflicts that trap youth in cycles of violence and displacement.

In regions where young people are already at risk of being recruited by armed groups, the use of autonomous weapons could make such recruitment more appealing. As warfare becomes increasingly dependent on technology, young people with the necessary skills to operate or hack these systems may become targets for both state and non-state actors, solidifying their involvement in conflicts.

The Importance of Participation

Given the potential humanitarian impact of autonomous weapons on women and youth, there is an urgent need for international regulation and safeguards. States must ensure that the development and deployment of these technologies comply with international humanitarian law and human rights standards, integrating Resolutions 1325 and 2250 into the regulatory frameworks governing autonomous weapons.

For women, this means ensuring that autonomous weapons do not exacerbate gender-based violence or further marginalize women in peace processes. For youth, it involves creating safeguards to protect them from forced recruitment or exploitation and ensuring their participation in discussions about the future of warfare and conflict resolution.

Conclusion

The deployment of autonomous weapons presents a new frontier in modern warfare, one filled with ethical and humanitarian challenges. For women and youth, who are already disproportionately affected by conflicts, these challenges are particularly acute. By grounding the debate on autonomous weapons in the frameworks established by Resolutions 1325 and 2250, the international community can better address the unique vulnerabilities of these groups while promoting their participation in peace and security efforts.

Anne Cuadros, a lawyer specializing in International Humanitarian Law, is a project assistant at Scrap Weapons and a Youth Champion for Disarmament by the United Nations (2024). Anne’s research focuses on disarmament, non-proliferation, and arms control with a gender perspective.