La Respuesta Al Fenómeno Del Narcotráfico En Colombia Mediante Fumigaciones Aéreas De Cultivos Ilicitos: Análisis De Legalidad a La Luz Del Derecho Internacional Humanitario

Since the beginning of aerial spraying of illicit crops with glyphosate in Colombia, local farmers and peasants have claimed that it affects their health, environment and economy. This article provides an analysis on the legality of aerial sprayings under international humanitarian law and argues that, according to the current definitions of direct participation in hostilities, growing illicit crops never amounts to the loss of protection under this legal framework. The article also analizes the aerial sprayings of illicit crops from the perspective of the proportionality rule, in those cases in which the deaths, the injuries and the forcible displacements caused by such aerial sprayings may be considered as civilian collateral damages.