Armed drones kill people around world in the name of the “war on terror”. The US airbase Ramstein in western Germany is a symbol of the global reach of drones as well as of Germany’s role in the US drone war. The base is used for assessing images for targeted killings and for relaying data to the drones. As the drone wars expand, legal standards are massively curtailed or indeed ignored. More and more governments are now using drone technology for military purposes, taking their cue from the legal approach of the USA. When it comes to the drone wars it seems there is no end in sight.
Two panel discussions will explore the issue from various perspectives. Those affected by drone strikes will report on the impact of these attacks in their home countries, activists and investigative journalists will discuss secret drone programs, and lawyers will examine the legal framework of this form of warfare.
17:00
Introduction:
Andreas Schüller,
ECCHR
Statement:
Faisal Bin Ali Jaber, survivor of a drone attack in Yemen, activist and petitioner in an
administrative law complaint against Germany 17:15
The effects of the drone wars in the international fight against terrorism Jeremy Scahill, journalist,
The Intercept (USA)
Shahzad Akbar, lawyer,
Foundation for Fundamental Rights (Pakistan)
Chris Woods, director
Airwars (UK)
Jennifer Gibson, lawyer,
Reprieve (UK)
Moderation: Sarah Harrison, director,
Courage Foundation 19:00
The German position on the use of armed drones Oliver Fixson, head of the international law division,
German Foreign Office Wolfgang Kaleck, General Secretary,
ECCHRAndreas Zimmermann, Professor of Law,
University of PotsdamModeration:
Wolfgang Janisch,
Süddeutsche Zeitung
