Disarmament and International Security Committee JHUMUNC 2017 1 Disarmament and International Security Committee Topic A: Use of Combat and Reconnaissance Drones in Armed Conflict Topic B: Homegrown Terrorism and Foreign Fighter Phenomenon Committee Overview Topic A: Use of Combat and Reconnaissance Drones in The Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC), referred to as Armed Conflict the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, was founded as one of Introduction the six, main General Assembly committees, primarily dealing with maintaining world The US drone policy recently made peace and security at an international level. headlines when the Pentagon stated that a Founded right after the conclusion of the senior..al-Shabaab official, Hassan Ali devastating World War II, DISEC strives to Dhoore, had been killed in a drone strike in promote global equality and cooperation in Somalia.2 Similar claims were made matters of disarmament and international regarding Pakistani Taliban commander security1. Topics that have been discussed in Khan Said Sajna3 and ISIS’ Mohammed past DISEC sessions include: nuclear Emwazi (a.k.a. “Jihadi John).4 Over the disarmament, the proliferation of weapons course of the past one and a half decades, of mass destruction, tensions between the US presidents have authorized around 3,300 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and such drone strikes.5 the Republic of Korea, cyber warfare and regional conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa. 2 Dearden, L. (02. 02 2016). Al-Shabaab leader This year’s forum will involve the Hassan Ali Dhoore 'killed' in US drone strikes in discussion of the utilization of drones in Somalia. Independent: armed conflict (Topic A) and homegrown http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/al- terrorism (Topic B). It is important to keep shabaab-leader-hassan-ali-dhoore-killed-in-us-drone- the committee’s primary objectives in mind strike-in-somalia-a6964736.html 3 Khan, H. (26. 11 2015). Pakistan Taliban when collaborating and developing realistic commander allegedly killed by drones. Aljazeera: and effective resolutions. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/11/pakistan- taliban-commander-allegedly-killed-drones- 151126094717789.html 4 British Broadcasting Corporation. (19. 01 2016). 'Jihadi John' death: Islamic State says Mohammed Emwazi killed. BBC UK: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35358101 1 Borade, G. (2013, July 20). DISEC – Disarmament 5 The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. (12. 10 and International Security Committee. Retrieved 2016). Get the Data: Drone Wars. from http://www.academicdestressor.com/disec- https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/category/proj disarmament-and-international-security-committee/ ects/drones/drones-graphs/ 2 Drones have not only penetrated the United Nations cannot afford to be military sphere, but are also used in medical apathetic; it must adapt to the realities of emergencies and commercial deliveries. The armed conflict in the 21st century. The world’s largest internet retailer Amazon, for Disarmament and International Security example, is currently testing drones to Committee must play an active role in this deliver goods to customers. However, in our discussion – first and foremost by putting committee, we will limit our discussion to forth guideline recommendations. the use of combat and surveillance drones in Even though the proliferation of armed conflicts. This excludes all uses of combat and surveillance drone technology drones, which are not related to military will not revolutionize international politics operations and the acquisition of to the same extent as the proliferation of intelligence. weapons of mass destruction did, drones Unmanned aerial vehicles, more could act as destabilizing agents commonly known as “drones”, are nonetheless. It is upon the international becoming an increasingly significant community to prevent the outbreak of a element of modern warfare. According to drone arms race, which would have far- Georgetown University professor Daniel reaching and long-lasting ramifications. Byman, they have already become the US Hence, the member states of the United administration’s weapon of choice – with Nations General Assembly should examine other nations soon to follow.6 Drone whether or not an international regulatory program advocates draw attention to the framework would be feasible and if so, system’s impressive cost-effectiveness ratio debate what this framework would and to its practicality in counter-terrorism encompass. operations. Critics, on the other hand, highlight the vast number of civilian casualties brought about by drone strikes. Terminology The Bureau of Investigative Journalism contends that 900 civilians were killed in US drone strikes in 2011 alone7. The term “drone” is too ambiguous With the eruption of a global debate for our purposes. Colloquially, the term about the ethical justifiability of drone “drone” is used to describe anything from a strikes, a sharp rise in the number of said quadcopter to a cargo drone to a General strikes and the proliferation of armed drone Atomic MQ-9 Reaper. It is an imprecise technology, the subject matter is more umbrella term, which refers to any aircraft pressing than ever. As the world’s largest without a human pilot aboard. That’s why international organization, the United the term “unmanned aerial vehicle” (UAV) Nations has a responsibility to foster is often used synonymously with the term dialogue on this issue and formulate a “drone”. The International Civil Aviation standardized set of rules regulating the use Organization (ICAO) and the US Federal of combat and surveillance drones. The Aviation Administration (FAA) use the term “unmanned aircraft system” (UAS) to reflect the fact that UAVs can include ground 6 Byman, D. (2013). Why Drones Work. Foreign stations and other elements besides the Affairs, 11. actual aerial vehicles.8 UAS should be 7 The Bureau of Investigative Journalism. (12. 10 2016). Get the Data: Drone Wars. https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/cate 8 TheUAV. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. gory/projects/drones/drones-graphs/ http://www.theuav.com/#31 3 regarded as the official term. To avoid any members of the armed forces of a party to confusion: the terms “remotely piloted aerial the conflict are combatants, except medical vehicle” (RPAV) and “remotely piloted and religious personnel.”10 Some aircraft system” (RPAS) refer to drones, jurisdictions expand the definition of a non- which are controlled via remote control. combatant to include individuals, who are UAVs and UASs are controlled either part of the armed forces but do not have a autonomously by onboard computers or via combat mission.11 remote control. Furthermore, synonyms for Furthermore, it is worth noting that RPAVs and RPASs include: “remotely the US government classifies any male, who controlled aerial vehicle,” “remotely is of military age and in close proximity of a controlled aircraft system,” “remotely targeted individual, as a combatant. If such operated aerial vehicle,” and “remotely an individual is killed during a drone strike, operated aircraft system.” In our committee, he will not be counted towards civilian we will focus on unmanned combat aerial casualties, unless he is proven to be vehicles (UCAVs) and unmanned innocent.12 Such investigations are, of reconnaissance aerial vehicles (URAVs). course, not prioritized. Missiles and cruise missiles shall not be One should also distinguish between categorized as UCAVs. a combatant, and an unlawful or underprivileged combatant. Combatants Key Definitions have the right to participate directly in As a DISEC delegate, your aim will hostilities; they have a “license to kill or be to draft and eventually pass resolutions wound enemy combatants and destroy other on the use of UCAVs and URAVs in armed enemy military objectives.”13 The term conflicts. While resolutions passed in the “unlawful/unprivileged combatant” is used First Committee of the UN General to describe all individuals taking a direct Assembly are not legally binding, they fall part in hostilities without being entitled to under the category of international law do so14. Members of militias, civilians nonetheless. Hence, it is crucial that you use taking part in hostilities, child soldiers, spies precise language and the correct terms and mercenaries are examples of relevant to this topic. The most important unlawful/unprivileged combatants. terms have been defined below. Targeted Killing: According to a UN special report, targeted killings are “premeditated 10 International Committee of the Red Cross. Rule 3: acts of lethal force employed by states in Definition of Combatants. Customary time of peace or during armed conflict to International Humanitarian Law: https://ihl- eliminate specific individuals outside their databases.icrc.org/customary- custody.”9 The term is not distinctly defined ihl/eng/docs/v1_cha_chapter1_rule3 11 Ibid. under international law. 12 Master, J. (23. 05 2013). Targeted Killings. Council on Foreign Relations: Combatant: Customary international http://www.cfr.org/counterterrorism/targeted humanitarian law defines combatants as “all -killings/p9627 13 Dörmann, K. The Legal Situation of Unlawful/Unprivileged Combatants. 9 Master, J. (23. 05 2013). Targeted Killings. Council International Committee of the Red Cross: on Foreign Relations: https://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/other/ir http://www.cfr.org/counterterrorism/targeted rc_849_dorman.pdf -killings/p9627 14 Ibid. 4 Civilian: A person is a civilian if