International law expert Vasilka Sancin says humanity must seize a critical chance to get ahead of advancing technology

With new technologies changing our lives in rapid and radical ways, Vasilka Sancin says this is a time of unprecedented opportunity. “This is an enormous opportunity for humankind to act preventatively, to address issues ahead of any potential disasters,” says Sancin, an international law expert who serves as Vice-President of the Slovenian Red Cross and as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council Advisory Committee. As developing technologies such as autonomous weapon systems and artificial intelligence pose new possibilities and new risks, the time is now for people to work together to ensure our laws provide adequate protection for people impacted by crisis.