Use of Drones and Private Military Companies in Modern Warfare: Effect on International Humanitarian Law

This paper examines how the use of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones and private military companies (PMCs) render the provisions of international humanitarian law (IHL) irrelevant. IHL is the product of a series of international treaties codifying the laws of armed conflict. At the heart of the IHL are four principles regulating the areas of targeting, detention and treatment of persons. This paper argues that the use of modern military technology has changed the nature, characteristics and location of the battlefield in the 21st century. It concludes with an emphasis on changing the existing IHL to reduce human sufferings and regulate the conduct of modern warfare.