Human or Machine? Lessons from the Use of Technology in the Monitoring Mission to Ukraine

In a contribution to the IPI Global Observatory, Andreas Wittkowsky reviews the experiences that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) has made by pioneering the employment of technical monitoring systems in peace operations. The use of technology has reduced security risks for personnel substantially and allowed missions to “see” far beyond their capacity to move. But a monitoring mission might still be well advised to maintain a visible human presence vis-à-vis the conflict parties and the population in order to show vigilance and, most importantly, build trust.

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