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. 

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INH_PG_Drones_AllInOne_v25.pdf>.

“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>.