Summary

The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination visited Greece from 9 to 16 December 2022. Pursuant to its mandate, during the visit, the Working Group focused on obtaining first-hand information on mercenary and mercenary-related activities in all their forms and manifestations, on the activities of private military and security companies and their impact on human rights in Greece, and on identifying challenges and good practices. In its report, it focuses on two specific areas: the existing domestic legal framework addressing mercenarism; and the use, regulation and oversight of private military and security companies operating on land or at sea. Furthermore, the Working Group presents its findings on the use and regulation of private military and security companies in the migration and maritime contexts. The Working Group makes recommendations to address issues in relation to the regulation of mercenaries and mercenary-related actors, and the operation of private military and security companies.