The Human Rights Council met at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva to discuss a potentially alarming issue. Should unmanned aircrafts, drones or robots be allowed to kill people without supervision or control? It seems like a plot right out of a science fiction novel, but the answer to this question remains under debate as UN officials examine reports of developing countries planning to build armed defense robots.

According to Christof Heyns, a special rapporteur for the United Nations, the development of lethal autonomous robots (LARs) should be considered as an issue affecting human life and rights. Unmanned robots pose threat to humans in a time of peace. LARs present an even bigger threat should nations go to war.

Mr Heynes said that if these robots are allowed to become fully operational, it is the machines that will get to decide who lives or dies. Mr Heynes spoke before the Council and presented the facts from his research. He urged the UN to call for a worldwide ban on the production and development of war machines and robots. The ban should stand while the UN figures out how to work around the legalities and ethical implications of the matter.

"War without reflection is mechanical slaughter", Mr Heynes said. He believes that taking human life requires careful thought and deliberation. The decision to allow the construction of lethal autonomous robots deserves great consideration involving world leaders.

It was also unclear to Mr Heynes how the said robots can identify innocent civilians from enemy targets.

Since robots cannot think and lack the human qualities of grace and compassion, robots cannot distinguish the difference or see another side to a situation. LARs are said to be the next generation in weapons against mass destruction since the invention of gun powder and nuclear bombs.

On an official note, countries with technology to make Lethal Authonomous Robots do not have plans to use them. Currently, there are no killer robots in fully functional mode, but a preview of this technology is already being used in the U.S., UK, South Korea and Israel. China and Russia are rumoured to be doing the same.

UN delegates are pushing for an international treaty and just waiting for a leading country to step up to champion the cause on the world stage.