Topic: Autonomous Weapon Systems
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Shania Mason
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Colombia position papers GLIMUN 2015 committees
Technological advances on unmanned systems in the last decade are leading the world into a new era of military conflict. The advancements are being made in the field of autonomous weapons systems (AWS) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), known more commonly as drones. These weapon systems reduce the risk of harming military personnel while providing more advanced function capabilities and reducing operation costs; however, they remain limited in the types of targets they can engage and pursue and in what context their use is appropriate. There is also question of whether or not combat drones will ever be able to distinguish between civilians and military personnel among other disputes. As with any new technology, precautions must be taken as countries explore autonomous weapons systems further and regulations applied before their usage poses a physical threat or brings ethical conflict to light. As countries study further the capabilities and uses of these machines we must make sure they do so in respect for humanitarian law.
Colombia is already addressing some of the disputes autonomous weapons and drones bring. In society, drone regulation laws are in place to insure that citizens operating drones do so in a responsible manner. Civilian drone users are also working to form the National Association of Drone Operators. As for militaristic uses, Colombia is a nation plagued with paramilitary groups and guerilla warfare and autonomous weapons have proven valuable in the surveillance and restraint of these groups. Currently, the majority of Colombia’s autonomous weapons power is put into internal issues of resisting drug trafficking and revolutionaries.
In the past, the United States has supplied Colombia with drones to repress guerilla groups and combat the war on drugs that entangles so much of Latin America. In turn, Colombia has supplied UAVs to Mexico, Haiti, Brazil, and Bolivia, and South Korea has also worked with Colombia to develop new AWS and UAV technology. Colombia hopes to work with other Latin American nations facing similar internal crises and with countries we have worked with previously on the subject of drones. Though, for the time being, Colombia’s militaristic uses for drones remains internal only, Colombia is looking to place regulations on militaristic drone use and development in regards to humanitarian law while also allowing countries the full benefits of unmanned systems. Colombia believes national sovereignty should be taken into account too since we have found many beneficial ways of controlling inner-state issues but are also aware that more concerns exist when multiple countries conflict that Colombia has not yet dealt with.
