Drones: setting a Precedent?

The use of drones has increased tremendously. Willemijn Verkoren (director at CICAM) argues that the current use of drones by America for targeted killings is clearly in violation of regular international and military law. What is more, she fears that the American reasoning used to legitimize the use of drones outside of war situations, could set a precedent for other countries to strike their suspected enemies abroad. However, Verkoren also sees a number of hopeful developments.

An interview with War and Peace Talk on 14 October 2013.

See also: the CAVV report on the legality of drone strikes under international law (in Dutch).

For more information on Willemijn Verkoren please refer to: her website; her profile at the University of Nijmegen; an article ‘Peacebuilding Plans and Local Reconfigurations: Frictions between Imported Processes and Indigenous Practices’.