Human Rights Council (HRC)

Transcription

1 Human Rights Council (HRC)

2 Use of Unmanned Air Vehicles Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), also known as remotely piloted aircraft or drones are small aircraft that fly by remote control or autonomously. Although previously associated with the military, UAVs are increasingly performing civilian tasks as the technology becomes more common 57 countries and 270 companies were producing UAVs in In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forecast that some 7,500 commercial small UAVs could be flying in the U.S. within five years. Introduction: Within the past decades, there has been a polarizing shift within the military tactics and strategies of many nations in the use of Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV). A UAV refers to an aircraft in which it does not require a physical pilot to operate. With the advent of new technology, many UAVs are controlled by pilots that operate thousands of miles away from the front lines. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 on the United States, there has been a rapid increase in the use of UAVs for the purpose of surveillance and military strikes upon those who are suspected of terrorism. This is most notable in regions such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia. Through the increased technological capabilities of many nation s armies, experts across the board warn of a coming global UAV arms race. Many questions have been raised since the increasing use of UAVs in combat. While some believe it to be a great tool for combating critical security threats, there is a growing concern for the effects of drones upon local populations. Many have raised concerns for greater transparency and accountability in military operations involving UAVs. A major issue in these situations in the due process of the individuals involved in these strikes. As well, the evident problem of collateral or unanticipated damage from these operations such as civilian casualties. Recent advancements have frightening developments of military strikes from UAVs being launched from a computer without human assistance in target detection. Beyond the military aspect of UAVs, the recent use of these tools in humanitarian aid has increased as well. The United Nations itself has used UAVs for surveillance purposes in several situations, most prominently the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In January 2013, the UN began utilizing surveillance UAVs in the nation, prompting a varied response. Their use in natural disasters and conflict situations has grown by the year with limited deployment in Democratic Republic of the Congo as well as in the Philippines. None the less, many questions regarding civilian usage need to be addressed as well. Many legal aspects of their utilization have not been established in most nations, and thus their legality is questionable. As more peacekeeping and military actors acquire UAVs, humanitarians will need to have clear guidance and common positions on when it is appropriate to use those capacities. Overall, the growing implementation of UAVs in military and humanitarian operations has brought about a serious debate among many on the future of these devices. Heat discussions have erupted between UN delegations, human rights groups, security professionals, and legal HRC Use of Unmanned Air Vehicles PAGE 1

3 scholars. A recent brief by the UN on its policy of UAVs for humanitarian use has reignited the

4 debate about military and civilian usage of UAVs. Background & History: The first crude UAVs were created around World War I as simple unmanned aircrafts with little outside control. In the 1930s, the United States Navy created radio controlled drones that would be later used in delivering bombs and torpedoes during the second World War. With the advent of the Cold War and nuclear technology, UAVs were developed to collect data and as surveillance devices. Reconnaissance drones became prominent in both the US and USSR militaries and were used heavily during the Vietnam War for aerial combat and information purposes. Use of these vehicles was revolutionized in the 1980s and 1990s, branching out into several new uses and becoming far more pervasive in the modern world. Over fifty nations currently have access to combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UCAVs) and surveillance UAVs. Even the United Nations utilizes surveillance UAVs in its peacekeeping missions, most notably in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. According the UN polls, a large majority of Americans approve of surveillance drones being used tactically in United Nations missions. The United States is by far the largest proponent and creator of unmanned air vehicles, with a large part of its military comprised solely by UAVs and the presence of drones domestically for surveillance purposes. Its drone technology is leaps and bounds ahead of any other nation, though many other nations are developing and marketing drones at varying pace. Despite its growing popularity, there is a debate regarding the morality of using UAVs both domestically and in foreign regions. Since the creation of UCAVs, the United States in particular has been utilizing them in its military endeavors. Begun by the Bush administration and emphasized in recent years, UCAVs have been used to remotely target and eliminate terrorist threats. In Pakistan alone, drone strikes have killed more than two thousand militants. Many nations have raised issue with these acts, claiming that the US should not be allowed to cross over national borders and eliminate any perceived threat. Such discord was only intensified by the unknown, yet high, civilian casualty rate drones engender. Pre emptive strikes on suspected militants has now become the norm in the way the United States conducts war. In response, major military powers such as Israel, China, India, and Russia have begun developing and testing sophisticated combat UAVs. Even surveillance UAVs have become controversial as of late. The UN declaration that it would be using drones to monitor the situation in the DRC was met with vitriol from multiple African nations, with a Rwandan delegate claiming that it infringed on the rights of countries in the region. This sentiment was echoed by Guatemala, Pakistan, Russia, and China. However, the official stance of the United Nations remains in favor of surveillance UAVs employed with the permission of the nation in question Current Situation: Drone strikes are still currently one of the main resources of the United States military in eliminating militant threats. The United States is currently using its UCAVs to destroy threats in Syria and Iraq from the militant Islamic group ISIS. Drone warfare is also common US policy in

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6 Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Yemen. In Somalia, they are used against the terrorist

7 organization of al Shabaab. In the remainder they are being used to pursue high valued targets of al Qaeda. The United Nations is increasingly incorporating surveillance UAVs in its peacekeeping missions across Africa. Currently, there are forces within the Democratic Republic of the Congo using UAVs, and the Malian government has agreed to allow the technology within its borders. The drones are used to protect civilians and to send information to humanitarian workers and forces regarding the movements of rebel groups across large regions. Within the Security Council, China and Russia advise proceeding cautiously while the legal implications of drones are studied. However, the United States and Britain take the opposite stance, listing the great help the information gathered by UAVs has been as evidence. The Problem: The main issue with UAVs is their moral implications. Taking away the human element in military situations may have extreme ramifications in the way the world conducts war in the future. The ability to simply locate a target, cross international borders and eliminate them with no risk of human life is terrifying to many nations. Further increasing complaints is the high civilian casualty rate common among such drone strikes. Often, the threat is not confirmed, and people who are only suspected of terrorist actions are killed by UCAVs. Militarization of unmanned vehicles is not limited solely to the United States, however. Technologically advanced nations such as Israel and China, along with terrorist organization like Hamas and ISIS, have shown the capability to create and utilize UAVs effectively. With multiple parties able to use such powerful technology, the possible ramifications on the world and how they should be regulated are debated heavily. Even surveillance UAVs used by the United Nations in peacekeeping missions are controversial. Several African nations object to the usage of drones in bordering nations, especially those with insufficient technology to detect and destroy any UAVs within their borders. China and Russia are also proponents of more regulations on the employment of drones in foreign, sovereign nations. Relevant Documents: Security Council mission mandates on UAV centered peacekeeping mission in Mali, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo Any significant press releases from your country or its allies discussing UAVs The use of UAVs domestically and abroad by countries with the technological capability Anything you find relevant to this topic and beneficial for committee discussion Bloc Positions: No nation is a stronger supporter of drone usage than the United States of America. Notorious for its operations on foreign soil, the USA supports the use of UAVs in both military and civil operations. Recently, the USA approved and has set plans for widespread private usage of drones by Its consistent usage of UAVs is echoed in its support for UN drone usage in humanitarian situations.

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9 Following in the footsteps of their NATO ally, many European nations follow these same

10 sentiments. With some large UAV production agencies in Europe and most European nations using them, it is no surprise that they follow the same views. Willing to also pursue their military use, they support their implementation in humanitarian situations, though many will bring up partial skepticism of the lack of framework for their usage. Another nation that has these same concerns is Israel, the world s largest exporter of military drones. On the opposite side, nations such as China and Russia are skeptical of surveillance programs used by humanitarian programs. These concerns are brought up upon the sovereignty of the nations involved. These are not to be taken as these nations do not support military usage of drones however. President of Russia Vladimir Putin has announced plans to increase the number of Russian drones by 2019 to make them a viable part of the Russian military. China also produces many drones with 15,000 UAVs operating in the civilian sector alone. Both nations walk a fine line between improving their own usage while supporting limitations until further knowledge on UAVs is conducted, or until their own programs are equally developed. Many small nations such as Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen, and Afghanistan are all quite skeptical of drone warfare and will occasionally outright oppose it. While all hold policies to support the elimination of terrorism, they fear the use of drones for the civilian casualties in their nations it causes. Cases such as Pakistan wish to end US drone supremacy and be able to develop military UAV programs themselves so that they can use their own drones. The remaining nations which are not directly affected by UAV programs have their own stances on this which fall close to these bloc s. Many developing nations in the Middle East and Africa are skeptical of the programs for the both military and civilian aspects. More western aligned nations support these policies, though some may question their vast implementation. Other developed nations can see the value in UAV programs in humanitarian missions but note the vast implications and needs to revise the system. Committee Mission: The use of UAV programs, civilian and military settings, is a sensitive subject with many nations and the UN must take great care in the way it approaches this topic. The Human Rights Council much recognize the sovereignty all nations and not be quick to create a comprehensive guideline that will ostracize the views of some major nations. However, the ultimate goal remains to create logical and fair regulations, or no regulations at all, on the usage of UAVs in a military and civil context. Consider these aspects and your own nation s stance before analyzing the necessity and plausibility of the approaches upon which you decide. Questions to Consider: 1) Does your nation own sophisticated surveillance or combat UAVs? Have they made ventures towards creating them? 2) What stance has your nation previously taken on the subject of UAVs? 3) Who are your country s allies and what experiences have they had with surveillance and combat unmanned aerial vehicles? What is their general moral stance on such actions?

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12 4) Is there a significant presence of UAVs, whether it be through a United Nations

13 peacekeeping mission or military campaign, in your nation? Sources for Further Research: CIA Factbook New York Times BBC News The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and past resolutions/debate on topics similar or related to the use of unmanned air vehicles HRC Use of Unmanned Air Vehicles PAGE 5