The UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries will report to the General Assembly on November 7 that a number of private security firms operating in conflict zones, particularly Afghanistan and Iraq, are engaging in new forms of mercenary activity. The Group’s report characterizes the personnel employed by such companies as a new form of mercenaries, similar to “irregular combatants.”
The report also warns that States employing such private companies could be liable for human rights violations committed by them, especially if governments are directing the companies or have authorized them to exercise elements of governmental authority. The report further discourages States from granting immunity to such companies and their personnel.
The full story on the report is available here.
More on the Working Group can be found here.