Mercenaries and private military and security contractors (PM/SCs) create unique challenges to the enjoyment of human rights in both war and peace. In recognition of that fact, one of the several “special procedures” mandated by the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) is the Mercenaries Working Group.
The Working Group (WG) consists of 5 volunteers appointed by the Council for renewable three-year terms. IJRC board member Gabor Rona is a current member.
The WG reports annually to the HRC and the UN General Assembly on the use and progress toward prohibition of mercenaries and on vetting, training, registration, accountability, and establishment of limitations on the role and use of PM/SCs. It conducts missions to countries where the activites of mercenaries and PM/SCs are prevalent, reports on violations and challenges to human rights by mercenaries, PM/SCs, States and individuals, and it proposes solutions to the human rights challenges created by mercenaries and PM/SCs.
Perhaps of greatest interest to IJRC readers, the WG, like several other mandate-holders under the various special procedures of the HRC, receives and can investigate individual allegations of human rights violations, in this case, those committed by mercenaries and PM/SCs. Complaints may be drafted using a form available online , and submitted via post (Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Office at Geneva, 8-14 avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland), fax ((022) 917.90.06), or e-mail ([email protected]).
For more details on this special procedure’s mandate and work, see the WG’s website and, in particular, its annual reports.
For more details on all the HRC special procedures, see the UN Special Procedures page on this site or the HRC website.