Summary

In the present report, 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 selfdetermination examines violations of human rights and humanitarian law perpetrated by private military and security companies, mercenaries and related actors in the maritime context. Private military and security companies, in particular, have increasingly been deployed at sea in recent years as a direct response to the challenge of piracy in multiple geographical regions, and often in conjunction with public security actors. The isolated nature of the marine environment and non-existent or weak regulatory frameworks create a situation where the lack of monitoring and oversight enable human rights abuses of seafarers perpetrated by private security personnel to flourish. Similarly, labour rights of private security personnel themselves are also at substantial risk. Nevertheless, accountability for violations is absent. The proliferation and weak regulation and management of weapons at sea are also of concern. In the report, the Working Group urges States to ensure proper oversight and regulation of private military and security companies operating in the maritime context and to ensure that victims of abuses at sea perpetrated by such actors can gain access to justice and effective remedy.

During the preparation of the present report, the Working Group was composed of Sorcha MacLeod (Chair), Jelena Aparac, Ravindran Daniel, Chris Kwaja and Carlos Salazar Couto.