(Brussels) “The Dangers of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems” will be the focus of the next “luncheon debate” organized by the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (Comece) on 19 November in Brussels. Discussion will focus on the issue of “autonomous weapons” which, in the light of the rapid progress made in drone technology, may soon have the power to decide autonomously on life and death in armed conflicts. These weapons “represent one of the greatest challenges to the peaceful co-existence of peoples”, the organisers explain. They “are not just highly problematic from the viewpoint of international law. They may also have a destabilising impact on security policy” and “above all their use raises major ethical questions”. Speakers at the event include Dr. Bernhard Koch (Institute for Theology and Peace, Hamburg) and Dr. Niklas Schörnig (Peace Research Institute, Frankfurt). A Memorandum will also be presented on the occasion. An international campaign called “Stop Killer Robots” was launched in 2013 calling for a pre-emptive ban on these weapons. It was supported by several NGOs, including Pax Christi. “Autonomous weapon systems can never replace the human capacity for moral reasoning, including in the context of war”, said Silvano Tomasi, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the UN in Geneva at a meeting of experts in the field in May 2014. For registration, please visit www.comece.eu.