The United Nations' human rights chief, Volker Türk, has issued a urgent call for international regulation of autonomous weapons systems, particularly drones, amid escalating use in conflict zones like Ukraine, Sudan, DR Congo, Myanmar, and the Middle East. He warned that the unchecked deployment of these systems is creating a 'new circle of hell' for civilians, citing relentless drone attacks in Ukraine and over 1,000 civilian deaths in Sudan in 2026 alone. Türk emphasized that AI-enabled weapons and defenses risk normalizing atrocity and eroding accountability.

Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) shows an 81% increase in drone attacks and a 600% surge in drone-related deaths in Sudan between 2024 and 2025. UK Minister Jenny Chapman condemned the use of drones by warring parties to target civilians and aid workers, stressing the need to document abuses and preserve evidence to combat impunity. The UN is advocating for a binding international treaty similar to those governing chemical weapons and cluster munitions.

Türk urged nations to confront the moral and legal implications of autonomous weapons, insisting on maintaining human control and updating legal frameworks to ensure accountability. He called for renewed commitment to diplomacy and mediation, warning that without action, the proliferation of AI-driven warfare could fundamentally undermine international humanitarian law.