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

Drone roundup July 3-23

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.

July 27, 2021
Joint letter to President Biden: End US program of lethal strikes

On June 30, 2021, 113 organizations from the United States and around the world sent a letter to President Biden calling for an end to the U.S. program of lethal strikes outside recognized battlefields, including through the use of drones.

This program is a centerpiece of the United States’ forever wars and has exacted an appalling toll on Muslim, Brown, and Black communities in multiple parts of the world. The US administration’s current review of this program, and the approaching 20th anniversary of 9/11, is an opportunity to abandon this war-based approach and chart a new path forward that promotes and respects our collective human security.

July 13, 2021
Event summary: The legal and ethical implications of armed drones

Major technological advances over the last decades have resulted in the rapidly growing deployment of uncrewed aerial vehicles, also known as ”drones” for military purposes and in law enforcement scenarios. While these uncrewed systems may at a first glance bring important advantages, there is a need to critically examine the implications of their use for the civilian population as well as for long-term peace and stability. On June 7th, 2021, in a webinar hosted by the Asociación Española de Investigación para la Paz (AIPAZ), Centre Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau and the European Forum on Armed Drones (EFAD), academics, civil society representatives and members of parliament engaged in a lively discussion on the  risks and challenges that could be faced by Spain when deploying drones and other novel military technologies. The event was held in Spanish. 

July 1, 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