UN EXPERTS ON THE USE OF MERCENARIES TO STUDY SITUATION IN EASTERN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA

16 October 2008


The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination will launch a Regional Consultation for eastern European and central Asian countries from 17 to 18 October 2008, in Moscow, Russian Federation.

The UN experts will seek to gain a regional perspective about the current practices related to mercenaries and private military and security companies registered, operating or recruiting personnel in the region. They will also share information on steps taken by States in the region to introduce legislation and/or other measures to regulate and monitor the activities of such companies on the international market.

The Working Group will discuss general guidelines, norms and basic principles for the regulation and oversight of the activities of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and security services on the international market to encourage the further protection of human rights.

To that end, they will consult with government representatives, experts, academics specialized on private military and security companies, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as a representative from a private military and security company.

A full report of the conclusions and recommendations reached during the consultation will be presented to Member States at a forthcoming session of the Human Rights Council.

The Working Group was established by the Commission on Human Rights in 2005. It is composed of five independent experts, serving in their personal capacities. It is headed by its Chairperson-Rapporteur Mr. Alexander Nikitin (Russia), who will be in Moscow with Ms. Amada Benavides de Pérez (Colombia), Mr. José Luis Gómez del Prado (Spain) and Ms. Shaista Shameem (Fiji). The fifth member, Ms. Najat Al-Hajjaji (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), is not able to attend the meeting.

For more information on the Working Group's Regional Consultation, please contact Maymuchka Lauriston Tel: +41 (0) 22 917 9752, mlauriston@ohchr.org
For more information on the resolution establishing the mandate of the Working Group, please consult the website of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights at: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/mercenaries/index.htm

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