Modern Technologies and Targeting under International Humanitarian Law

Over the last decades, the worldwide evolution and advancement of technology interfused nearly all aspects of life, including the conduct of States and non-State actors in armed conflict. The lex specialis governing armed conflicts, international humanitarian law (IHL), has always been challenged by these transformation of conflicts and continuously advancing weaponry. However, those involved in armed conflict situation, especially those taking part in actual combat, are in need of precise regulation or at least interpretation thereof to determine which conduct is lawful and which is not. Therefore modern technologies and the alteration in targeting made possible by their use have to be continuously reassessed for their compliance with IHL and its overall objectives. This thesis will focus on two distinctive types of modern technology, on the one hand unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) and on the other hand cyber attacks and their (il)legality under the laws of armed conflict.

Lülf, C. (2013). Modern Technologies and Targeting under International Humanitarian Law. IFHV Working Paper, 3(3).