united nations disarmament and international security
TRANSCRIPT
United Nations Disarmament and International Security
Committee
DISEC
Committee: The United Nations Disarmament andInternational Security Committee
(DISEC) Topic: Evaluating the increased use of UAVs in peacekeeping missions
Written by: Victoria Rojas, Gabriel Hernández and Bárbara Martínez
I. Committee Background
The United Nations Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC),
also known as the First Committee, was created in 1945. It is one of six central
committees related to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). It primarily
focuses on seven critical topics: “nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass destruction,
outer space, conventional weapons, regional disarmament and security, other
disarmament measures and international security, and the disarmament
machinery” (Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations, 2017). The
committee is located at the UN Headquarters in New York City, meeting every
September to November, although special meetings can be organized at any time. The
sessions are divided into three parts: general debate, thematic discussions, and action
plan drafts. DISEC reports its agreements and findings to the Disarmament
Commission (UNDC) and the Conference on Disarmament (CD) (First Committee, UN,
2020). Currently, the committee is focused on addressing the Joint Comprehensive
Plan of Action (JCPOA), the use of chemical weapons in Syria, the arms race in outer
space, and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (NTI, 2018).
II. Topic Information
A) History of the Topic
A UAV is a crew-less aerial vehicle that is guided autonomously by a remote
control. UAVs can be remarkably efficient, offering a substantially higher range. This
device’s primary purpose is to analyze a specific terrain or area, have a strategic
reconnaissance, and to assist missile attacks. UAVs carry out many surveillance missions
and direct attacks in conflict situations. The endurance, and speed of a UAV vary in size
and power and have a variety of photographic radars and electronic sensors
(Guilmartin, Encyclopædia Britannica, 2019). Peacekeepers are civilian, military, and
police personnel all working together to reach peace in conflict zones. Peacekeeper
operations have developed from monitoring ceasefires to protecting civilians,
disarming ex-combatants, protecting human rights, promoting the rule of law,
supporting free, fair elections, and more (UN Peacekeeping, 2019).
UAVs can be useful when investigating human rights violations. Either to gather
images or live videos of an area. Also, drones offer an alternative to a field of research
that will be significantly safer and secure when physical access is restricted or denied
(Lyons, HRW, 2017). Still, drones can be a danger to many human rights, such as the
right to life and privacy. Armed drones have created a climate of fear as they can strike
unannounced at any time. According to the Women’s International League for Peace &
Freedom (WILPF), the “mere presence of drones has negatively impacted broader
human rights, such as freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, access to education,
and assistance to victims of drone strikes.” At a special meeting of the United Nations
Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the WILPF further stated that there is a lack of
transparency involving the use of UAVs. Organizations that use them, including the
United Nations, are currently not obligated by law to release the data used by the
UAVs in order to launch an attack or gather intelligence. This, according to the WILPF,
“this leaves victims and survivors unable even to be heard in court and without the
possibility of any justice, redress, or acknowledgement” (WILPF, 2014).
Jane Holl Lute, a former United States (US) Deputy Secretary for Homeland
Security and a senior peacekeeper, has previously prepared a report for the UN's
Peacekeeping and Field support departments, mentioning that the use of UAVs or any
other aerial observation device in peacekeeping missions is highly recommended for
most cases if not all. This report also includes that the use of drones and the
information obtained from them would have strict protocols and procedures. Lute also
denied that this would make the UN an intelligence-gathering body, claiming that
"(they) need the information to operate safely and securely and with integrity and with
effect” and that “(they) just want to know the environment (they are) walking into.” UN
representatives and officials have claimed that drones have helped peacekeepers to
track armed groups in a variety of missions (Charbonneau, Reuters, 2015).
B) Current Issues
France: France plans to arm its drones over the next five years. Currently, all of the
country’s drones are used for surveillance and intelligence gathering in conflict areas
such as Libya and Mali. Florence Parly, the Minister of Defense of the French Republic,
has publicly stated that she does not want to create an army of “killer robots.” So, the
French rules of engagement will apply to the use of all UAVs. The country will also
strictly follow all international laws and agreements related to these devices. Moreover,
the country has pledged to report on its use of UAVs and investigate any instances
related to civilian deaths (Tran, Defense News, 2017).
Russia: Since the beginning of anti-terrorist operations in Syria in 2015, Russian UAVs
have performed over 23,000 surveillance flights. These drones have provided round-
the-clock information on rebel movements. Furthermore, Russia uses UAVs in order to
precisely target terrorist and rebel strongholds without harming innocent civilians. It
also ensures that Russian soldiers are not put in danger by conducting ground
operations. In the last five years, Russia has increased its UAV arsenal from 180 in 2011
to around 2,000 UAVs in 2016. In 2019, the Russian government set aside 10 billion US
dollars for the purchase of a dozen armed UAVs in 2020 (Oliver, Armada International,
2019).
South Africa: According to South Africa’s national aviation authority, flying a drone is
legal in the country. However, the use of the devices is highly regulated (UAV Coach,
2020). Drones have been a popular tool in peacekeeping and military missions in South
Africa. Hervé Ladsous, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations,
explained why he thinks that drones “do a better job in protecting civilians because
they provide a real-time picture of situations as they develop on the ground.” Ladsous
specified that the UAVs in South Africa are for surveillance purposes only. The country
has used its UAVs during peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, the
Congo, and Mali (Tafirenyika, Africa Renewal, 2016).
United Kingdom: Since 2010, the United Kingdom (UK) has implemented the use of
UAVs in peacekeeping and military operations. According to UK law, armed UAVS can
only be used on foreign territory, while non-armed ones are only permitted for
reconnaissance or surveillance purposes within the country. In 2015, the United
Kingdom used armed drones in Syria to kill British citizens for the first time, without
having any parliamentary approval for any operations in Syria. Organizations such as
the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drones have raised concerns that the UK
government may have adopted a controversial practice of “targeted killing” without
following a judicial process. This, the group has stated, would put it in violation of
international law and human rights (All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drones Inquiry
Report, 2018).
C) UN Action
The United Nations began to use drones in its peacekeeping missions in
December 2013. A United Nations panel addressing the future technological needs of
peacekeeping missions has recommended dramatically expanding the use of uncrewed
surveillance drones in UN peacekeeping operations. The use of UAVs would prevent
civilian deaths and improve the gathering of information. However, some UN member
states have raised questions about how information gathered by the UN’s drones
would be stored and shared. In response, the United Nations has stated that it would
own the information gathered by the drones and that there would have to be strict
regulations and procedures put in place which would cover the use of UAVs
(Charbonneau, Reuters, 2015).
III. Essential Questions
1. What are UAVs?
2. What is a peacekeeper?
3. How are UN peacekeeping missions organized?
4. Does your country participate in United Nations Peacekeeping missions? If so, in
which way?
5. Does your nation use UAVs in its military? If so, how?
6. What are UAVs used for during peacekeeping missions?
7. Why do some countries object to the use of UAVs in peacekeeping missions?
IV. Quorum
• Afghanistan
• Brazil
• Canada
• China
• Egypt
• France
• Germany
• India
• Iran
• Israel
• Japan
• Kenya
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Syria
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
V. Resources
“Armed Drones Killing Human Rights?” Women's International League for Peace and
Freedom (WILPF). Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, 2014. Web.
18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.wilpf.org/armed-drones-killing-human-rights/>.
Charbonneau, Louis. “U.N. panel urges increased use of drones in peacekeeping
missions.” Reuters. Reuters, 2015. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.reuters.com/
article/us-un-peacekeepers-drones-idUSKBN0LR24G20150223>.
Curran, David and Paul W. Williams. “The UK and UN Peace Operations: A Case for
Greater Engagement.” Oxford Research Group. Oxford Research Group, 2017. Web.
18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/the-uk-and-un-peace-
operations-a-case-for-greater-engagement>.
“Disarmament and International Security (First Committee).” United Nations (UN).
United Nations, 2019. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <http://www.un.org/en/ga/first/
index.shtml>.
“Drone Laws in South Africa.” UAV Coach. UAV Coach, 2020. Web. 18 Feb. 2020.
<https://uavcoach.com/drone-laws-in-south-africa/>.
Guilmartin, John F. “Unmanned aerial vehicle.” Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia
Britannica, Inc. 2019. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.britannica.com/technology/
unmanned-aerial-vehicle>.
Knight, Ben. “Germany to expand global military missions.” Deutsche Welle. Deutsche
Welle, 2018. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-expand-
global-military-missions/a-42858081>.
Lyons, Josh. “Drones in the Service of Human Rights.” Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Human Rights Watch, 2017. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.hrw.org/news/
2017/12/11/drones-service-human-rights>.
Michaels, Josue. “Will Germany Soon Use Armed Drones in Afghanistan?” Watch
Jerusalem. Watch Jerusalem, 2019. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://watchjerusalem.co.il/
819-will-germany-soon-use-armed-drones-in-afghanistan>.
Oliver, David. “Russia’s Rapid UAV Expansion.” Armada International. Armada
International, 2019. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://armadainternational.com/2019/03/
russias-rapid-uav-expansion/>.
Tafirenyika, Masimba. “Drones are effective in protecting civilians.” Africa Renewal.
United Nations, 2016. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.un.org/africarenewal/
magazine/april-2016/drones-are-effective-protecting-civilians>.
Tran, Pierre. “France to arm military surveillance drones.” Defense News. Defense
News, 2017. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/09/05/
france-to-arm-military-surveillance-drones/>.
“The GA Handbook: A practical guide to the United Nations General Assembly.”
Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. Permanent Mission of
Switzerland to the United Nations, 2017. Web. 17 Feb. 2020. <https://
www.eda.admin.ch/dam/mission-new-york/en/documents/UN_GA__Final.pdf>.
“The UK’s Use of Armed Drones: Working with Partners.” All-Party Parliamentary Group
on Drones Inquiry Report. All-Party Parliamentary Group, 2018. Web. 18 Feb. 2020.
< h t t p s : / / w w w . b s g . o x . a c . u k / s i t e s / d e f a u l t / f i l e s / 2 0 1 8 - 0 7 /
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“United Nations First Committee.” Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). Nuclear Threat
Initiative, Oct. 2018. Web. 18 Feb. 2020. <https://www.nti.org/learn/treaties-and-
regimes/un-first-committee/>.
“What is peacekeeping?” United Nations Peacekeeping. United Nations, 2020. Web.
18 Feb. 2020. <https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/what-is-peacekeeping>.