these weapons is not intended to kill but rather incapacitate or temporarily disable
the aggressor.
51 This device can protect a vessel from armed robbers and repel or
constrain the aggressors without great or permanent injury. Such weapons encompass stun gun, Tasers, tear-gas, entangling nets, and rubber bullets. Technological
advancements hold the promise of delivering non-lethal weapon that employ sound
and microwaves. Amongst the greatest advantages of using these non-lethal devices
is simply the fact that they don’t kill the aggressor and therefore preserve the life of
the attacker. The injuries which are inflicted are generally reversible.
52
Non-lethal weapons can arguably be perceived as both ethical and unethical. On
the one hand, these weapons force the ship operator to make a more calculated
decision to defend the ship and not a rushed move that can result in human loss. They
eliminate the unnecessary and permanent suffering and might lead to a peaceful
conflict resolution during a ship attack. The use of non-lethal weapons in selfdefense during pirate attacks undoubtedly and indirectly uphold the fundamental
UNUDHR that is the Right to Life.
On the other hand, such equipment can have unintended lethal effects on the
recipient especially when not used in accordance with Human Rights guidelines.
Amnesty International, for example, has documented numerous incidents where the
use of non-lethal weapon resulting in abuse, human rights violations,
53 torture when
the recipient is in the custody of the perpetrator.
54
4.5.2 Photographs
Taking pictures of suspected pirates has been proven effective in stopping imminent
threats. There have been numerous accounts where such measure has prevented
armed robberies from taking place. Furthermore image processing and face recognition software could provide tremendous value to ship masters in identifying
realistic threats.
51 Lewer and Davison (2015).
52 Kaurin (2010), p. 102.
53 See about the right to not be subject to torture or ill treatment in the document of reference: Ethics
and human rights on the field of piracy, page 19.
54 Amnesty International (2015).
408
K. Lagdami and A. Fakhry
the aggressor.
51 This device can protect a vessel from armed robbers and repel or
constrain the aggressors without great or permanent injury. Such weapons encompass stun gun, Tasers, tear-gas, entangling nets, and rubber bullets. Technological
advancements hold the promise of delivering non-lethal weapon that employ sound
and microwaves. Amongst the greatest advantages of using these non-lethal devices
is simply the fact that they don’t kill the aggressor and therefore preserve the life of
the attacker. The injuries which are inflicted are generally reversible.
52
Non-lethal weapons can arguably be perceived as both ethical and unethical. On
the one hand, these weapons force the ship operator to make a more calculated
decision to defend the ship and not a rushed move that can result in human loss. They
eliminate the unnecessary and permanent suffering and might lead to a peaceful
conflict resolution during a ship attack. The use of non-lethal weapons in selfdefense during pirate attacks undoubtedly and indirectly uphold the fundamental
UNUDHR that is the Right to Life.
On the other hand, such equipment can have unintended lethal effects on the
recipient especially when not used in accordance with Human Rights guidelines.
Amnesty International, for example, has documented numerous incidents where the
use of non-lethal weapon resulting in abuse, human rights violations,
53 torture when
the recipient is in the custody of the perpetrator.
54
4.5.2 Photographs
Taking pictures of suspected pirates has been proven effective in stopping imminent
threats. There have been numerous accounts where such measure has prevented
armed robberies from taking place. Furthermore image processing and face recognition software could provide tremendous value to ship masters in identifying
realistic threats.
51 Lewer and Davison (2015).
52 Kaurin (2010), p. 102.
53 See about the right to not be subject to torture or ill treatment in the document of reference: Ethics
and human rights on the field of piracy, page 19.
54 Amnesty International (2015).
408
K. Lagdami and A. Fakhry