The European Forum on Armed Drones is a civil society network of organisations working to promote human rights, respect for the rule of law, disarmament and conflict prevention.

News

Event Summary – In Pursuit of Human Rights and Accountability: Challenges Around Regulating the Use of Force with Armed Drones

Almost two decades after their first deployment outside situations of armed conflict, the use of drones has now become routine for many nations and non-state actors alike. In a side-event to the 48th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, organized on 24 September 2021 by Reprieve and PAX, state representatives, families of victims, human rights lawyers and UN experts discussed ongoing human rights and accountability challenges surrounding armed drone use.

October 12, 2021
Panel discussion – In Pursuit of Human Rights and Accountability: Challenges Around Regulating the Use of Force with Armed Drones

Twenty years after their first deployment outside situations of armed conflict, the use of drones have now become routine for many nations and non-state actors alike. Whilst it is necessary for states to cooperate to address violence carried out by non-state armed groups, it is imperative those efforts comply with and uphold human rights and international law and the unintended consequences of proliferation are taken into account.

September 15, 2021
Drone roundup August 6-20

This roundup, curated by ReThink Media, looks at how the media is talking about drone warfare (and related topics) and what stories are being told.

With little transparency from governments on this topic, this roundup aims to be as comprehensive as possible, identifying breaking news, trends, developing stories, or interesting narratives. Rethink Media also use media coverage to compile a snapshot of strikes each week. The short version can be read here.

August 25, 2021

Resources

Report: Armed drone use by EU states: political, legal and ethical issues

Several European countries are in the process of equipping their armies with armed MALE (Medium Altitude Long Endurance) drones. These new weapons are not without controversy. They are redefining military practices and the contours of war as we know it. This analysisexamines the position that the European Union has adopted with regard to these controversial weapons, which belong to its Member States, and the measures taken (or not taken) as a result at the European level. It first notes that the EU has supported the use and acquisition of armed drones and more. This support does not appear to be the result of an institutionalised decision upstream, but rather of a de facto acceptance of a fait accompli established by the Member States. It then examines the legal and ethical considerations that result from this effective support, and which seem to have been left out of a hypothetical debate.

Author: Solène Jomier

Date: 19 May 2021

Report: Remote Horizons: Expanding use and proliferation of military drones in Africa

The use of military drones is rapidly increasing across Africa, according to a new report by peace organization PAX. Drones are used in armed conflicts or counterterrorism operations across the continent, while there are few policies, rules and procedures that are observed when deploying drones. The report, “Remote Horizons: Expanding use and proliferation of military drones in Africa”, shows that in the last 14 years, African and foreign states have been involved in drone operations in at least 20 states in North Africa, the Sahel and Horn of Africa.

Paper: Military drones in Europe: Ensuring transparency and accountability

The use of armed drones, particularly to conduct targeted killings outside formal war zones, is highly contentious. In the contemporary context, where conflict has moved beyond the theatres of traditional warfare to take place in undefined battle zones, and is chiefly characterized by counterterrorism and counter-insurgency operations, drone use has brought to the fore critical questions on civilian casualties, the rule of law, secrecy and lack of accountability, among others.

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We call upon all European governments, individually and through European institutions to:

We call upon all European governments, individually and through European institutions to:

1     Articulate Clear Policies
2    Prevent Complicity
3    Ensure Transparency
4    Establish Accountability
5    Control Proliferation