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The humanitarian impact of drones

This study examines various humanitarian impacts of the use of armed drones from a number of different perspectives and regions.


With contributions from academics, legal analysts, and survivors of armed drones, this report aims to refocus the debate about drones on the harm caused to people by these weapons as specific technologies of violence. It examines the significant challenges raised by drones to international law, human rights, ethics and morality, peace and security, environmental protection, development, transparency, surveillance, privacy, policing, gender equality, and more.

Download the full report here.

This publication is also available in Arabic.

Edited by Ray Acheson, Matthew Bolton, Elizabeth Minor, and Allison Pytlak • Second Edition (2021)  First published October 2017 by Reaching Critical Will, a programme of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Article 36, and the International Disarmament Institute of Pace University

We are delighted to offer the online version for free, but please consider making a donation to Reaching Critical Will to help us cover the costs of producing this paper and the other materials and information services that Reaching Critical Will provides.