Read more on this

Read more on this

Jo Swinson demands a new ‘Geneva Convention’

by Steve Beasant on 16 September, 2018

The Liberal Democrats have today set out their strategic goals to restore Britain’s place as a leader in improving the lives of people around the world, including a new ‘Geneva Convention’ for modern warfare.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, warned her party conference that “all around the world, small-minded, populist leaders are sprouting up. Feeding off fear and lies. Undermining the international order.”

The Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson urged delegates to “demand a vision for a country that is proud of its history, not stuck in the past.”

The proposals agreed by members include:

  • the promotion of an international treaty on principles and limits of the use of technology in modern warfare, including cyber, AI and drones.
  • new legislation to ensure a meaningful parliamentary vote before any wars.
  • a call for an immediate suspension of new arms contracts to Saudi Arabia.

Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Jo Swinson said:

“Recent cyber-attacks on businesses and civil infrastructure traced to Russia show that cyber-defence must be considered the new civil defence.

“That is why Liberal Democrats are determined to take forward radical new ideas, including a new ‘Geneva Convention’ for modern warfare.

“It is paramount that the UK work with our partners to develop international rules that limit new technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones and cyber.

“That is the leadership we need from our country. But instead we have a Conservative Government failing to stand up to bullies, be they in the Oval Office or the Kremlin. Liberal Democrats demand better.”

Notes:

The text of motion F20 ‘Britain at the Heart of a Changing World (Britain in the World Policy Paper)’ can be found on page 52 here.

   Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>