Shibbir Ahmed, UNITED NATIONS, NY — September 4, 2026: Syria has begun destroying remnants of the chemical weapons programme inherited from the government of former President Bashar al-Assad, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to dismantle its clandestine chemical arsenal under international oversight.

The development was highlighted during a United Nations Security Council briefing on Syria’s chemical weapons programme, where UN officials reported that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) had verified the destruction of chemical munitions in Syria for the first time since 2014.

UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu told the Council that the verified destruction represented “significant progress” in international efforts to eliminate Syria’s remaining chemical weapons capabilities.

According to UN and Reuters reporting, the destruction includes 42 aerial bombs, along with additional chemical-weapons-related production and storage facilities. The verification represents the first confirmed destruction of Syrian chemical munitions by the OPCW since the international disarmament process began more than a decade ago.

Remnants discovered after Assad’s fall

The latest operation follows the discovery earlier this year of previously undeclared chemical-weapons materials in Syria. In May, an OPCW expert team working with Syrian authorities reported finding previously undeclared chemical munitions, chemical substances, equipment and extensive documentation linked to the former government’s chemical weapons programme.

The OPCW said its investigation found dozens of previously undeclared chemical munitions, including aerial bombs of the same type associated with chemical attacks in Ltamenah in 2017 and Khan Shaykhun in 2017, as well as rockets of a type associated with the 2013 Ghouta chemical attack.

The discovery was significant because the OPCW had repeatedly raised questions about gaps and inconsistencies in Syria’s earlier declarations concerning the full extent of its chemical weapons programme. Following the fall of the Assad government in December 2024, Syria’s new authorities opened the door to renewed international inspections and cooperation with the OPCW.

International verification

The OPCW plays the central technical role in identifying, securing and destroying Syria’s remaining chemical weapons materials, while the issue continues to be addressed by the UN Security Council under its existing mandate.

The OPCW said in July that Syria’s rights and privileges under the Chemical Weapons Convention had been reinstated after the country’s new authorities demonstrated progress in cooperating with the organisation. The decision followed steps including amendments to Syria’s declaration, preparations for facility agreements and plans for verification and destruction activities.

The current process is therefore not simply a Syrian announcement of destruction. The significance lies in the fact that the destruction has been independently verified by the OPCW.

That distinction is crucial in international chemical-weapons disarmament, where verification is intended to establish that declared materials have actually been destroyed and cannot simply be transferred, concealed or reused.

Damascus promises further action

Syria’s representative to the United Nations, Ibrahim Olabi, told the Security Council that the destruction programme was intended to protect Syrians and prevent chemical weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The Syrian government has said it is cooperating with international experts to address the chemical weapons legacy left by the previous government.

The authorities are also preparing legal proceedings involving individuals allegedly connected to the former chemical weapons programme. Reuters reported that Syria is preparing trials involving 18 suspects, including senior figures allegedly connected to the programme.

The move could add an important accountability dimension to the international disarmament effort: not only destroying the remaining weapons and materials, but also investigating responsibility for their development and use.

Concerns over military activity

The Security Council discussion also reflected broader regional tensions. Syria’s UN representative criticized Israeli military actions in Syria, arguing that strikes could complicate chemical-weapons operations and place personnel involved in the destruction process at risk. Türkiye also raised concerns that Israeli military activity could make the disarmament effort more difficult.

Those claims remain part of the broader political dispute surrounding Syria and should be distinguished from the independently verified technical findings concerning chemical-weapons destruction.

A milestone after more than a decade

The latest development represents a significant change from the period when Syria’s chemical weapons programme was the subject of intense international confrontation. Syria joined the Chemical Weapons Convention in 2013, following international pressure after the deadly chemical attack in Ghouta. The OPCW subsequently supervised the removal and destruction of declared chemical weapons, but questions remained about whether Syria had fully disclosed the scope of its programme.

The discovery of previously undeclared materials in 2026 reinforced those concerns. The new Syrian authorities’ cooperation with the OPCW has now created an opportunity for international inspectors to revisit sites, collect documentation, identify undeclared materials and oversee their destruction.

The OPCW said its current work includes efforts to establish a complete and accurate inventory of remnants of the Assad-era programme and ultimately ensure their destruction in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention.

UN welcomes progress but warns work remains

The UN briefing made clear that the destruction of 42 aerial bombs and other materials does not mean the Syrian chemical weapons dossier is closed. International inspectors still have work to do to determine the full extent of the former programme, verify Syria’s declarations and oversee the destruction of remaining chemical-weapons-related materials.

The OPCW has previously said that more than 100 locations across Syria were considered potentially relevant to the former chemical weapons programme, with high-priority sites selected for investigation based on information gathered over many years.

For the United Nations and the OPCW, the immediate objective is therefore twofold: complete the inventory and ensure the irreversible destruction of everything that remains. The first verified destruction since 2014 nevertheless represents an important milestone.

After years of international disputes over Syria’s chemical weapons declarations, the combination of renewed Syrian cooperation, OPCW inspections and verified destruction could mark the beginning of a new phase in efforts to permanently eliminate the country’s chemical weapons legacy.

For the Security Council, however, the challenge remains ensuring that the process continues safely, transparently and under international verification until the entire inherited programme is accounted for and eliminated.

KATHMANDU — At least 22,000 children in Nepal urgently need safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene assistance more than a week after devastating flash floods swept through the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river basin, UNICEF said. The floods damaged water-supply systems across affected districts and destroyed or severely damaged toilets and other sanitation facilities, increasing the risk of waterborne and infectious disease outbreaks.

Families displaced by the disaster are also crowded into host households and temporary holding centres, making it increasingly difficult to maintain basic hygiene and access clean water.

“Every parent in these districts is now making the same calculation several times a day,” said Alice Akunga, UNICEF Representative in Nepal, referring to families’ urgent need to determine where they can obtain water and whether it is safe for their children.

UNICEF expands emergency response

UNICEF has already delivered water, sanitation and hygiene supplies for approximately 19,000 people in Rasuwa and Nuwakot, two of the districts hardest hit by the floods. The emergency supplies include more than 3,800 hygiene kits, 3,300 collapsible 10-litre jerrycans, 3,500 buckets, 3,500 one-litre mugs and 4,000 bottles of water-treatment solution. More than 1,000 tarpaulin sheets have also been distributed.

UNICEF teams are working with Nepalese authorities and humanitarian partners on disease surveillance, hygiene awareness and outbreak prevention as the risk of infectious diseases rises.

Schools also heavily affected

The floods have also disrupted children’s education. UNICEF estimates that at least 19 schools have been damaged, including eight that were completely destroyed and another eight that suffered partial destruction. More than 10,000 school-age children are in need of immediate psychosocial support and access to safe learning spaces.

The damage to water infrastructure, homes and schools has left thousands of families facing an uncertain recovery while emergency teams continue providing essential assistance. Humanitarian agencies say restoring access to clean water and sanitation is particularly urgent because prolonged displacement and overcrowded living conditions can accelerate the spread of disease.

The latest warning comes as Nepal continues to recover from one of its most destructive recent flood disasters, with communities across the affected river basin struggling to rebuild homes, infrastructure and essential services. UNICEF said it will continue working with the Nepalese government and partners to provide life-saving water, sanitation, hygiene and child-protection support to affected communities.

Shibbir Ahmed | United Nations, New York — United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for sweeping reforms to global institutions, arguing that the international system must adapt to a rapidly changing, increasingly multipolar world.

Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Bishkek on Tuesday, Guterres said global power relations were changing while many multilateral institutions continued to reflect the geopolitical realities of 1945.

“We must reform our multilateral institutions, including the United Nations and the Bretton Woods system, to reflect today’s realities,” Guterres said, calling for greater representation and influence for developing countries in order to build a fairer global order.

Guterres said the world was becoming increasingly multipolar and argued that the trend should be strengthened.

“Multipolarity is a condition for justice in global governance and international relations,” he said, describing it as a foundation for effective multilateralism and a United Nations that serves all countries without double standards.

The UN chief has repeatedly called for reforms to the Security Council and other international institutions to make them more representative of the current distribution of global power.

His remarks in Bishkek also highlighted four areas for stronger international cooperation: global security, development financing, climate action and governance of artificial intelligence.

Guterres’ call comes amid growing geopolitical tensions, conflicts and disputes over the effectiveness of existing international institutions. His message was clear: as global power shifts, the institutions governing international affairs must change with it.

Shibbir Ahmed, UNITED NATIONS, NY — The United Nations is marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances on Sunday with renewed calls for governments to address the fate of missing people, protect victims and their families, and ensure truth and justice for those affected by enforced disappearance.

The annual observance, held on August 30, highlights the continuing suffering of people whose relatives have disappeared after being arrested, detained or otherwise taken into state custody while authorities deny or conceal their whereabouts.

UN human rights experts said the impact of enforced disappearance extends far beyond the individual victim. Families can be left for years without information about what happened to their loved ones, while communities can suffer social and economic consequences. The UN has described enforced disappearance as a serious human-rights violation that can also be used to spread fear throughout society.

The 2026 observance is particularly significant because it marks 20 years since the adoption of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. The convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2006 and established an international legal framework aimed at preventing enforced disappearances and protecting people from the practice.

The UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances and the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances have used this year’s observance to renew attention to victims and their families and to the need for effective measures to prevent disappearances and clarify the fate of those who remain missing.

A Continuing Global Human Rights Challenge

Enforced disappearance occurs when people are arrested, detained or abducted by, or with the authorization, support or acquiescence of state authorities, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the person’s detention or to provide information about their whereabouts.

The consequences can continue for decades. Families may remain uncertain whether their relatives are alive or dead, while the lack of information can prevent them from obtaining justice, reparations and other forms of support.

The UN has repeatedly stressed that resolving cases of enforced disappearance requires credible investigations, accountability and access to information for families.

The International Day also serves as a reminder of the broader obligations of governments under international human-rights law to prevent enforced disappearance and investigate allegations when they occur.

Twenty Years of the UN Convention

The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance was adopted on December 20, 2006. It entered into force in 2010 and created the Committee on Enforced Disappearances to monitor implementation by states parties.

The convention recognizes the right of every person not to be subjected to enforced disappearance and calls on states to take measures to prevent the practice and ensure accountability. Two decades after its adoption, the UN continues to call for stronger implementation of the convention and greater protection for victims and their families.

The UN’s message on August 30 remains clear: families searching for missing relatives should not be left without answers, and enforced disappearance must not be allowed to remain a tool of fear, impunity or denial.

Shibbir Ahmed, UN, New York: Irene Zubaida Khan, a veteran international human rights advocate, has taken office as Bangladesh’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York. Khan presented her credentials to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, formally assuming her role as Bangladesh’s envoy to the world body.

She brings decades of experience in human rights, international law, refugee protection, the rule of law and sustainable development, including senior roles at the United Nations and other international organizations.

Before taking up her new role, Khan had served since 2020 as the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. From 2001 to 2009, she served as Secretary-General of Amnesty International, becoming the first woman to lead the organization.

From 2012 to 2019, Khan served as Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). Earlier in her career, she spent 21 years with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), holding a number of senior positions including Chief of Mission in India and Deputy Director of the Division of International Protection.

Khan received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2006 and is the author of The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights. She studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law School.

Shibbir Ahmed, United Nations, New York: The death toll from devastating flash floods and landslides in Nepal has risen to 538, while nearly 1,000 people remain missing. Many of those missing are believed to be tourists. Search and rescue operations and relief efforts continue across the disaster-hit areas.

On Friday, citing figures from the Government of Nepal, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said nearly 3,750 people had been rescued following the disaster. Rescue teams are continuing efforts to reach people stranded in various parts of Nepal’s Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts.

According to the latest update issued Friday by Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 538 bodies have so far been recovered from the flood-affected areas. The ministry also said that among 632 foreign nationals from 33 countries, 121 have been located or accounted for, while 511 remain missing. The figures are expected to change as search and rescue operations continue.

Glacier Collapse Believed to Have Triggered Disaster

A devastating flash flood struck the Bhote Koshi River area of Nepal on August 26. The disaster is believed to have been triggered by a glacier collapse and subsequent landslide, sending huge amounts of water, rocks, mud and debris rapidly down mountain waterways.

Entire communities were destroyed by the powerful floodwaters, while roads, bridges, hydropower facilities and other critical infrastructure suffered extensive damage. Rasuwa is among the worst-affected districts. Rescue operations have been particularly challenging because of the mountainous terrain, damaged roads and disrupted communications.

Tibet Also Severely Affected

China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, on the other side of the Nepal-China border, has also been severely affected by the disaster. According to authorities there, around 560 people remain missing. Officials fear the number of casualties and missing people could rise as search operations continue in both Nepal and Tibet.

Renewed Flood Threat

The situation became even more dangerous after a new water reservoir or lake formed in the mountainous region following the initial flooding. On Friday, rising water levels raised fears of another flood, temporarily disrupting rescue operations in some areas. Rescue efforts resumed after the immediate threat was brought under control. Nepalese authorities continue to monitor river levels and the risk of further flooding downstream.

UN Supports Relief Efforts

UN agencies are working to deliver emergency food, medical supplies, tents and other assistance to communities affected by the disaster. The United Nations said it is providing medical supplies sufficient for around 10,000 people for three months, along with emergency food rations, tents and logistical support. Satellite imagery is also being used to assess and monitor the affected areas.

Lila Pieters Yahia, the UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal, visited the disaster zone. She described the rescue of an entire family as an extremely emotional moment. Her visit was cut short after a renewed flood alert was issued.

Risk of Disease Outbreaks

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of an increased risk of infectious diseases following the disaster. WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević said that when disasters of this scale cause displacement and overcrowding, while disrupting water, sanitation and health services, the risk of infectious diseases can increase significantly.

Dozens of Schools Destroyed

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said 18 schools have been completely destroyed and another 20 have been damaged by the floods. Dozens more schools located near riverbanks remain at high risk. As a result, an estimated 10,000 school-aged children in the affected areas need support to continue their education.

‘The Impact Is Truly Immense’

Kamal Kishore, head of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), highlighted the extraordinary scale of the disaster. He said that, in living memory, such a major mountain hazard event had not been seen for a very long time.

The disaster has had an immense impact on lives and livelihoods, as well as buildings, bridges, infrastructure, hydropower projects and power generation facilities, he said. Kishore added that authorities and humanitarian agencies are still trying to understand the full extent of the damage.

He described the current situation as involving both extremely high risk and significant uncertainty, stressing that the emergency itself is not yet completely over. The UN said the disaster has once again highlighted the fragility of mountain ecosystems and the challenges of establishing effective early-warning systems in mountainous environments.

More Than 93,000 People Affected

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said it is “very, very concerned” about the possibility of a secondary flood. According to the organization, at least 93,000 people have been affected by the disaster and are in urgent need of assistance.

Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said security and disaster-management agencies are operating at full capacity to support search and rescue, medical assistance, evacuation and relief operations in the affected areas.

Region Has Faced Major Disasters Before

The disaster-hit region has experienced major natural disasters in the past. In April 2015, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Nepal, killing more than 8,800 people. Last October, torrential rains triggered flash floods and landslides across parts of eastern and central Nepal, affecting more than 30,000 people.

The latest disaster is being viewed as one of the most severe natural disasters to hit Nepal in recent years. The death toll and number of missing people could change as search and rescue operations continue.

Shibbir Ahmed, UN, NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by severe flooding in Nepal and China, extending his condolences to the families of those who died and solidarity to all those affected. According to a statement issued by his spokesperson, Guterres said he was saddened by reports of deaths and people still missing following the devastating floods.

The UN chief also wished those injured a speedy recovery and commended emergency responders working to save lives and assist communities affected by the disaster. The catastrophic flooding struck areas along the Nepal-China border after a massive ice and rock collapse in the Himalayas triggered torrents of water, mud and debris. The disaster swept through communities, damaging homes, roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure.

Nepali authorities have reported hundreds of deaths and hundreds of people still missing, while Chinese authorities have also reported fatalities and hundreds missing in Tibet. The figures continue to change as rescue teams reach affected areas. Guterres reiterated the United Nations’ readiness to provide further support to the relief and recovery efforts.

UN teams and humanitarian partners are mobilizing personnel and emergency supplies to assist communities affected by the floods, while working with the Government of Nepal to assess the scale of the disaster and determine urgent needs.

Rescue operations are continuing in difficult conditions, with damaged roads and bridges making access to several affected areas extremely challenging. Thousands of Nepalese army and police personnel have been deployed for search-and-rescue operations, while helicopters are being used to deliver emergency supplies and evacuate survivors.

The disaster has also affected foreign nationals, including tourists and religious pilgrims traveling in the Himalayan region. Nepalese authorities have reported hundreds of foreign nationals among those missing. The United Nations said it remains in close contact with the authorities and humanitarian partners as relief operations continue.

DHAKA: State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said the government is committed to protecting human rights and ensuring that no citizen is detained or imprisoned unjustly because of political affiliation or vendetta.

“The government will definitely ensure that no one is unjustly imprisoned or detained due to political vendetta,” she told journalists at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

Shama said the government’s commitment to due process and fundamental rights extends to supporters of all political parties, including opposition parties and the Awami League, whose activities are currently banned.

“No party, be it the opposition party, Awami League, or any party, the current government will definitely ensure that no one is unjustly imprisoned or detained due to political vendetta,” she said.

The State Minister alleged that Bangladesh had experienced widespread human rights violations over the past 17 years, saying BNP leaders and activists were among the major victims.

“The kind of human rights that have been violated in Bangladesh in the last 17 years has never been violated in the history of Bangladesh,” she said.

“The biggest victim is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, its leaders and activists,” she added.

Shama said the government would not allow a return to what she described as the country’s previous “fascist era” and would work to protect the fundamental rights of every citizen.

“We will never want the past fascist era to return now or in the future. We want all human rights to be ensured to every citizen,” she said.

She said the government has a responsibility to protect citizens’ rights and ensure that the justice system is not used for political revenge.

“Our government’s stand is that we are trying to protect human rights. We are responsible to the people,” she said.

Bangladesh policy guides foreign relations

Turning to foreign policy, Shama said Bangladesh’s approach is focused on protecting national interests while maintaining balanced and respectful relations with all countries.

“Our foreign policy is first and foremost a ‘Bangladesh policy’… with equal rights with everyone and maintaining our own interests with respect,” she said.

She said the elected government’s political mandate had strengthened Bangladesh’s position in negotiations with international partners.

“When Bangladesh is talking, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh is talking, then all the other stakeholders including China are listening to our words with more attention, more seriously,” she said.

“Now that Bangladesh is an elected government, we have a stronger position in our negotiation space,” she added.

Rohingya crisis requires political solution

On the Rohingya crisis, Shama said Bangladesh would use its strengthened diplomatic position to encourage greater international engagement and push for a lasting political solution.

“The matter is absolutely a political problem, it is a very sensitive matter and we need to solve this problem politically,” she said.

She said Bangladesh remains engaged in both official and unofficial communication with various stakeholders in Myanmar as part of efforts to resolve the crisis.

“We are trying to involve the international community more,” she said, referring to a high-level UN session on the Rohingya crisis scheduled for September, which Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to attend.

Bangladesh will also explore whether greater involvement from the Muslim world could help increase pressure on Myanmar and create momentum towards a solution, she said.

According to Shama, the crisis has become increasingly complex since the massive influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh began in 2017, particularly because of Myanmar’s changing political and security landscape.

She pointed to the emergence of the Arakan Army and other actors in Rakhine State, as well as growing security concerns along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, including human smuggling and drug trafficking.

Shama said it was difficult to determine the exact number of Rohingyas currently living in Bangladesh because of continued arrivals and births in the camps.

“We don’t know the exact number right now, but it will definitely be over 1.3 million,” she said, adding that an estimated 30,000 children are born in the camps each year.

She said Chinese President Xi Jinping had expressed Beijing’s willingness to cooperate with Bangladesh in finding a solution to the Rohingya crisis during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s recent visit to China.

Shama also questioned the effectiveness of existing arrangements for resolving the crisis without stronger involvement from the United Nations and other major international stakeholders.

She said Bangladesh could gain additional diplomatic leverage from Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman’s upcoming role as President of the UN General Assembly.

“From that place, we have a power to speak for Bangladesh in the international community. We think that at least in the next year, we will be able to use this capacity a little better,” she said.

Shama reiterated that Bangladesh would continue to pursue a “Bangladesh policy” in its international relations, protecting national interests while maintaining ties with other countries on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York: The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross on Tuesday issued a renewed and urgent call for international rules governing autonomous weapons, warning that the world is dangerously close to a point where machines could autonomously target human beings.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres and International Committee of the Red Cross President Mirjana Spoljaric said governments must act urgently to prevent weapons from making life-and-death decisions without meaningful human control.

“We are now dangerously close to crossing a moral red line: the autonomous targeting of humans by machines,” the two leaders said in a joint appeal issued in Geneva on August 25. They called for negotiations to begin immediately on a legally binding international instrument establishing clear prohibitions and restrictions on autonomous weapon systems.

Risks are increasing

The UN and Red Cross said their fundamental concerns have remained unchanged since they first called for specific restrictions three years ago, but the risks have intensified as weapons technology has advanced rapidly.

Autonomous weapons are systems capable of selecting and engaging targets with limited or no direct human intervention. The growing use of artificial intelligence in military technology has raised concerns that machines could eventually determine independently who should be attacked.

The organizations stressed that autonomous weapons are not a distant possibility. A race toward greater autonomy in weapons systems is already underway, while international regulations have not kept pace with technological development.

Human judgment must remain central

A major concern is whether autonomous systems can reliably distinguish between combatants and civilians, particularly in complex battlefield conditions. Humanitarian organizations have also warned about the difficulty of determining responsibility when an autonomous system makes a fatal error. If a machine independently selects and attacks a person, questions could arise over who should be held legally responsible for the consequences.

At a Geneva briefing, the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs emphasized that some decisions should never be removed from human hands — particularly the decision over whether another human being lives or dies.

International talks have made limited progress

Governments have been discussing autonomous weapons under the United Nations framework since 2014. Important groundwork has been established through the UN General Assembly and the Group of Governmental Experts working under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons.

However, negotiations have struggled to keep pace with rapidly advancing technology. The UN and Red Cross now want governments to move beyond discussions and establish concrete international rules. The renewed appeal comes ahead of further international discussions in Geneva and a major review conference scheduled for November.

Growing use of artificial intelligence in warfare

Concerns have increased as artificial intelligence-assisted and semi-autonomous weapons have become more prominent in modern conflicts, including in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, Iran and the Gulf region. Some fully autonomous defensive systems are already in military use, including systems designed to intercept incoming missiles. However, there is currently no confirmed evidence that fully autonomous weapons have been used to deliberately target humans without human involvement.

The UN and Red Cross argue that governments should establish safeguards before technology reaches a point where machines can independently make decisions over human life.

“This year must mark a turning point,” the two organizations said, urging governments to show political determination and move toward decisive international action.