Verity Coyle

US/Israel: Investigate Iran School Attack as a War Crime An unlawful attack on a primary school in southern Iran before midday on February 28, 2026 that reportedly killed scores of civilians, including many children, should be investigated as a war crime, H...

US/Israel: Investigate Iran School Attack as a War Crime
www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...

Amid US/Israeli airstrikes & brutal repression, Iranians are entering day 8 of an internet shutdown, placing civilians at risk, restricting their ability to access lifesaving info & reach loved ones, and contributing to psychological harm.

Iranian authorities should urgently restore internet access

Reports of real world use and a very fast moving issue, here's our analysis today.

There is a widening chasm between the slow diplomacy of #UN talks and pace of development and use of emerging technology in weapons systems.

#KeepCtrl #AutonomousWeapons #KillerRobots

#EU leaders should never belittle role of int'l law or apply it selectively - as they've done since #USA/#Israel's strikes on #Iran & retaliatory strikes on neighboring countries.

It goes against #EU values & its long-term interests.

Our take 👇
www.hrw.org/news/2026/03... @eudiplomacy.bsky.social

US Military’s Dangerous Slide Toward Fully Autonomous Killing The United States Department of Defense’s decision on February 27 to reject the artificial intelligence company Anthropic’s ethical red lines for AI for military use is a clear sign that the Pentagon ...

I'm at the #UN meeting on autonomous weapons systems with partners from @stopkillerrobots.bsky.social - states have the opportunity to draw legal red lines around emerging weapons systems.

Will they?

New @hrw.org dispatch with @abacci.bsky.social

www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...

I leave home soon today for the #UN in #Geneva, my first advocacy trip for @hrw.org

Escalation of conflict changes the dynamics, we’ll be looking to states for clear commitments on protection of civilians.

Autonomous weapons systems require new international law, negotiated now.

@hrw.org is closely monitoring initial reporting that Israel and the United States have launched strikes on Iran. Our focus remains civilian protection and carrying out our mandate by monitoring for any violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

Press release!
"We are at a pivotal moment for humanity. When the companies building these technologies are themselves refusing to deploy it on safety grounds...”
Nicole Van Rooijen, Executive Director of Stop Killer Robots.

www.stopkillerrobots.org/news/press-r...

#anthropic #LLMS #AI #Pentagon

Grateful to Juliana Miranda, from CELS for the UNGA 1C statement on Torture-Free Trade.

This is a human rights issue, and an export control trade issue - at the heart of it though is the prevention of torture - more action is needed from states to end the trade in tools of torture.

With members of the #TortureFreeTrade Network presenting the @amnesty.org petition on behalf of 251,178 people to the representatives of @austriaun.bsky.social, @denmarkun.bsky.social, @franceUN, @spainun.bsky.social, @swedenun.bsky.social, @swiss-un.bsky.social, @UK UN.

#ProtectTheProtest

On behalf of 251,178 people world wide @amnesty.org
with our partners from the Torture-Free Trade Network has just handed in this petition calling for a #TortureFreeTrade Treaty to the Ambassadors of the @euatun.bsky.social and @unmongolia

#ProtectTheProtest

The Gen-Z Movement: This is why we’re risking our lives to protest Across the world, a number of young people – known as the Gen Z movement – are taking to the streets and fighting for their rights.

www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ca...

Ceasefire must be pathway to ending Israel’s unlawful occupation, apartheid and genocide There must be a full cessation of hostilities and a total lifting of the blockade.

@amnesty.org : Ceasefire must be a pathway to ending Israel’s unlawful occupation, apartheid and genocide www.amnesty.org/en/latest/ne...

Excellent to see 46 countries reiterate their support for the development of a legally binding Torture-Free Trade instrument.

Concrete progress.

#TortureFreeTrade

Torture weapons are being used on Europe's streets to put down protests Rubber bullets, chemical substances, experimental acoustic weapons have been used recently by various police on Europe's streets against peaceful protests, writes the UN special rapporteur on torture.

Significant protests have taken place in over 130 countries in the last 8 years.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Dr Alice Edwards has uncovered some shocking facts about the weapons being used.

@amnesty.org calls for a #Torture-Free Trade Treaty.

#ProtectTheProtest

tinyurl.com/3efcbnup

What happened on the first day of the #UnitedNations consultations on #AutonomousWeapons in NYC?

Listen to our Executive Director @nicolevanrooijen.bsky.social's recap 👇

"The reality of #AutonomousWeapons systems on the battlefield is increasing. Crucially, the need for robust international law is becoming all the more pressing and more consequential."

@verityc.bsky.social from @amnesty.org – a member of our campaign – speaks at the #UN meeting on #KillerRobots

Full house at our side event!
#StopKillerRobots

The reality of #KillerRobots on the battlefield is increasing; crucially, the need for robust law is becoming all the more pressing, and more consequential.

The #UNGA offers a fully inclusive space, it is incumbent upon all states move to negotiations of new law with the requisite urgency.

Stop Killer Robots members from all over the world are in New York for the first talks specifically on #KillerRobots at the UN 🇺🇳 NYC! This is the first time all states will have a seat at the table. All voices need to be heard if we are to create a treaty humanity needs. 1/🧵

In #NYC ahead of the #UN talks on #KillerRobots.

@stopkillerrobots.bsky.social is hosting a film screening of “Immoral Code”

My @amnesty.org colleague @docmattmoudi.bsky.social and @hrw.org Bonny Docherty sharing thoughts with journalists, diplomats and civil society.

#KeepCtrl

"We just hope that states will use this rolling text as a basis to negotiate a treaty and that they will respect the deadline that they have set up themselves." – @nicolevanrooijen.bsky.social

Our thoughts on this week's #CCWUN meetings on #AutonomousWeapons 👇
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While states negotiate #AutonomousWeapons at the #CCWUN in Geneva, problematic technologies are already being developed tested and used in contemporary warfare in border control in policing. #StopKillerRobots

📺 Watch what's happening in the room today: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1t...

Global: Electric shock equipment widely abused by law enforcement agencies due to alarming lack of regulation States and companies are manufacturing, promoting and selling electric shock equipment that is being used for torture and other ill-treatment, said Amnesty International, in a new report calling for a...

States and companies are manufacturing, promoting and selling electric shock equipment that is being used for torture and other ill-treatment. New report calling for a global, legally-binding treaty to regulate the unchecked production of and trade in law enforcement equipment.

tinyurl.com/mpa5aady

It’s been three days of what felt like predominately productive #UN talks on autonomous weapons systems - there’s a huge piece missing though….

#KeepCtrl #StopKillerRobots

#StopKillerRobots is in the room as states continue to discuss the rolling text on #AutonomousWeapons at the #CCWUN today.

📹 Watch the livestream here: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1x...

"It is precisely because of the autonomous nature of these technologies that human control over them needs to be explicitly stated and required."

Listen to the #StopKillerRobots statent delivered by @nicolevanrooijen.bsky.social on day 2 of #UNCCW:

#UNCCW #GGE lethal autonomous weapons systems #LAWS starting now.

@amnesty.org believes that states should consider removing the word ‘lethal’ as it is too restrictive, and lethality is an effect, not a characteristic.

IHRL and IHL govern the use of all weapons, including less lethal weapons.

This is the last week to respond to the UN’s call for scientists for its Panel on Nuclear War Effects.

🗓️ Nominations due 1 March

💻 Apply here disarmament.unoda.org/panel-on-the...

We encourage all qualified individuals to apply to make a significant contribution to arms control prospects

Campaigners urge F-35 fighter jet producing nations to stop supplying Israel Exclusive: More than 200 civil society groups say governments have failed to prevent planes from being used to violate international law More than 200 organisations worldwide have called on nations involved in producing F-35 fighter jets to “immediately…

Campaigners urge F-35 fighter jet producing nations to stop supplying Israel