I target with my little eye

: drones and targeted killing under the scope of ius in bello

Abstract

This master dissertation has two major focuses: one, to determine the legality of drones and targeted killing operations in armed conflicts, subjected to International Humanitarian Law; second, we intend to confront the theoretical conditions that we established to State practice, namely the US drone program, since it has been the most problematic. For this last section, we will discuss the practice of Signature Strikes as a great critic to the US is how they are conducting their drone program, specially the one carried out by the CIA. In the end we purpose to establish two things: the first is that IHL covers the use of drones and targeted killing operations, not requiring the creation of new treaties or conventions; and second, the need, when it comes to this subject, it is not about the existing rules, but it is dependent on the States will to comply with them. And it seems that the US does not have that will.

Date of Award	10 Jul 2017
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Isabel Tavares (Supervisor)