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 self-determination examines the increasing role of mercenaries, mercenary-related actors and private military and security companies in the trafficking and proliferation of arms and the consequential human rights and humanitarian impacts. The Working Group also examines measures that the international community can take to effectively address mercenary-related activities and how it can establish and strengthen regulations governing the operations of private military and security companies in this context. The activities and influence of these actors go beyond the spheres of the provision of weapons, military and security services and training and can fuel the demand for weapons in the regions in which they are deployed.
    
The present report was drafted primarily by the Working Group members Michelle Small, Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito and Sorcha MacLeod. The Working Group thanks those individuals and organizations who contributed to and assisted with the writing of the present report.