Friends at the workshop. Photo: Tim Harmon.
Workshop targets armed drones
QCEA strategy workshop held.
The Quaker Council of European Affairs (QCEA) continues to highlight a concern among Friends over the increasing use of remote-controlled flying robots (Drones) that carry weapons in conflict situations.
A strategy workshop for the European Forum on Armed Drones (EFAD) was hosted by QCEA at Quaker House, Brussels, on 16 January, where members of civil society groups discussed how to work together to change the policies of European governments and EU institutions on armed drones.
Fourteen participants, representing eleven different peace, arms control and human rights organisations from Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK, attended the workshop. Participants pooled their knowledge of European and national politics, discussed joint objectives and strategies for the group, and considered opportunities for advocacy. The event was organised by QCEA project officer Tim Harman, who chairs EFAD.
He said: ‘Armed drones make it easier than ever for governments to resort to violence. Drone strikes are increasingly being “normalised” by the media, and over the next few years more and more governments worldwide are expected to acquire this technology.’
EFAD, which was founded in 2015, was previously known as the Armed Drones Group.
