Introduction
The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination was established in July 2005 pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/2. It succeeded the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the use of mercenaries, which had been in existence since 1987. The Working Group is composed of five
independent experts, of balanced geographical representation.
Since 2005, the Human Rights Council renewed the mandate of the Working Group several times, most recently in 2016 for a period of three years through
resolution 33/4. Through this resolution, the Human Rights Council:
- Requests the Working Group to continue the work already carried out by previous mandate holders on the
strengthening of the international legal framework for the prevention and sanction of the recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries;
- Requests the Working Group to continue to
monitor mercenaries and mercenary-related activities in all their forms and manifestations,
and private military and security companies,
in different parts of the world;
- Also requests the Working Group to continue to
study and identify sources and causes, emerging issues, manifestations and trends with regard to mercenaries and mercenary-related activities and their impact on human rights, particularly on the right of peoples to self-determination.
In carrying out its mandate, the Working Group:
a) Transmits communications to Governments and other actors with regard to specific allegations of human rights violations involving mercenaries, mercenary-related actors, or private military and security companies;
b) Undertakes
country visits to examine the impact of mercenaries, mercenary-related actors, or private military and security companies on the enjoyment of human rights in the respective country, and submits reports to the Human Rights Council on the findings of the visit, including concrete and constructive recommendations to the Government and other actors to address areas that may benefit from improvement;
c) Submits
annual reports to the Human Rights Council and the General Assembly on the activities of the mandate and specific thematic issues related to mercenaries, mercenary-related activities, and private military and security and companies.
Radio interviews - Gabor RONA
Foreign fighters
Private military and security companies [English |
Chinese]
Video - Working Group on the use of mercenaries - Panel Event: Foreign Fighters
