The ICJ today submitted a written statement calling on the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the open-ended intergovernmental working group (IGWG) on private military and security companies (PMSCs).
The statement was submitted ahead of the 22nd session of the Council (25 February to 22 March 2013).
Recognizing that the IGWG identified, during its second session in August 2012, that there are a number of existing gaps and areas of concern relating to the protection of human rights in the context of the activities of private security companies, the ICJ urged the Council and all States participating in the IGWG to:
- Consider the possibility of elaborating a legally binding instrument on the regulation, monitoring and oversight and accountability of the activities of PMSCs, as well as complementary approaches and strategies; and
- Approach the issue of the regulation of PMSCs from a human rights perspective, particularly on the questions of accountability and access to justice.
HRC22-IGWGonPMSCs-LegalSubmission-2013 (download full submission in PDF)