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Annual thematic reports
Working Group on the use of mercenaries
The Working Group submits annual thematic reports to the September session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) and to the General Assembly (GA) in October. Thematic reports document the Working Group’s findings on particular topics related to the human rights impact of mercenaries, mercenary-related activities, and private military and security companies (PMSCs). The reports provide guidance and recommendations for UN member States, civil society organizations and other stakeholders.
| Year | Presented | Subject of the report | Title and link to report page |
| 2024 | GA 79th session | Trends and challenges in the financing of mercenaries and related actors | A/79/305 |
| HRC 57th session | Role of mercenaries, mercenary-related actors and private military and security companies in the trafficking and proliferation of arms | A/HRC/57/45 | |
| 2023 | GA 78th session | The Regulatory Environment for Mercenaries, Mercenary-related actors, and PMSC: A Call to Action | A/78/535 |
| HRC 54th session | Recruitment, including predatory recruitment, of mercenaries and mercenary-related actors | A/HRC/54/29 | |
| 2022 | GA 77th session | Maritime Security | A/77/268 |
| HRC 51st session | Access to justice, accountability and remedies for victims of mercenaries, mercenary-related actors and private military and security companies | A/HRC/51/25 | |
| 2021 | GA 76th session | Provision of military and security products and services in cyber space by “cyber mercenaries” and related actors and its human rights impact | A/76/151 |
| HRC 48th session | Human rights impact of PMSCs in humanitarian action | A/HRC/48/51 | |
| 2020 | GA 75th session | Evolving forms, trends and manifestations of mercenaries and mercenary-related activities | A/75/259 |
| HRC 45th session | Impact of the use of private military and security services in immigration and border management on the protection of the rights of all migrants | A/HRC/45/9 | |
| 2019 | GA 74th session | Gendered human rights impacts of private military and security companies | A/74/244 |
| HRC 42nd session | Relationship between PMSCs and the extractive industry from a human rights perspective | A/HRC/42/42 | |
| 2018 | GA 73rd session | Challenges associated with mercenaries, foreign fighters and PMSCs to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 16 | A/73/303 |
| HRC 39th session | Recruitment of children by non-State armed groups, including mercenaries and private military and security companies | A/HRC/39/49 | |
| 2017 | GA 72nd session | Use of private security companies in places of deprivation of liberty, and its impact on human rights | A/72/286 |
| HRC 36th session | Global Study on national regulatory framework and legislation on PMSCs (2013-2016) | A/HRC/36/47 | |
| 2016 | GA 71st session | Evolution of the phenomena of mercenaries and foreign fighters | A/71/318 |
| HRC 33rd session | Part IV of the Global study - National laws and regulations relating to PMSCs of selected countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), the Asia and Pacific region (Australia, New Zealand, Nauru and Papua New Guinea) and in North America (USA) | A/HRC/33/43 View report page | |
| 2015 | GA 70th session | Phenomenon of foreign fighters and the possible linkages with mercenarism | A/70/330 |
| HRC 30th session | Part III of the Global study - National laws and regulations relating to PMSCs of selected countries in Central America and the Caribbean (Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Panama), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay) and Europe (France, Hungary, Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) | A/HRC/30/34 View report page | |
| 2014 | GA 69th session | Use of private security companies by the United Nations | A/69/338 |
| HRC 27th session | Part II of the Global study - National laws and regulations relating to PMSCs of selected countries in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia) and in Asia (China, India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates) | A/HRC/27/50 View report page | |
| 2013 | GA 68th session | Review of States’ efforts to regulate PMSCs and conclusions related to phase I of the national legislation survey | A/68/339 |
| HRC 24th session | Part I of the Global Study - National laws and regulations relating to PMSCs of countries in Africa (Botswana, Ghana, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda and Zimbabwe) | A/HRC/24/45 View report page | |
| 2012 | GA 67th session | Update on mercenary activities in Côte d'Ivoire, Liberia and Libya and the evolving role of PMSCs in Afghanistan and Iraq | A/67/340 |
| HRC 21th session | WG's engagement in processes to elaborate standards for the regulation of PMSCs at the international level and research into national regulation of PMSCs | A/HRC/21/43 | |
| 2011 | GA 66th session | Update on recent activities of mercenaries and PMSCs and the issue of accountability, expert seminar on the State monopoly on the legitimate use of force, and achievements under the mandate | A/66/317 |
| HRC 18th session | Review of the achievements of the mandate since its establishment in 2005 and the key challenges | A/HRC/18/32 | |
| 2010 | GA 65th session | Challenges regarding the increasing privatization of security, the growing dependency on PMSCs, and the accountability of PMSCs and their personnel. Annex: Main elements of a possible draft convention on private military and security companies | A/65/325 |
| HRC 15th session | Progress achieved in the elaboration of a draft legal instrument for consideration and action by the Human Rights Council. Addendum no. 1 on Communications to and from Governments Addendum no. 4 on regional consultation in Bangkok Addendum no. 5 on regional consultation in Addis Ababa Addendum no. 6 on regional consultation in Geneva | A/HRC/15/25 A/HRC/15/25/Add.1 A/HRC/15/25/Add.4 A/HRC/15/25/Add.5 A/HRC/15/25/Add.6 | |
| 2009 | GA 64th session | Work on a possible new draft international convention on the regulation of PMSCs, missions to Afghanistan and USA, and summary of the regional consultation for Eastern European and Central Asian countries Annex: Status of the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries as at 2 July 2009 | A/64/311 |
| HRC 12th session | Standards, principles and guidelines for a new international convention on regulating private military and security companies and other legal regulatory instruments Addendum no. 1 on Communications to and from governments Addendum no. 3 on regional consultation in Moscow | A/HRC/10/14 A/HRC/10/14/Add.1 A/HRC/10/14/Add.3 | |
| 2008 | GA 63rd session | Overview of developments regarding mercenaries, mercenary-related activities and PMSCs; draft principles, guidelines and criteria elaborated by the Working Group in view of the possible development of national and international regulation mechanisms to address the activities of PMSCs | A/63/325 |
| HRC 7th session | Transnational issues, including the privatization of warfare, the activities of PMSCs, and extraterritorial and accountability issues Addendum no. 1 on Communications to and from governments Addendum no. 5 on regional consultation in Panama | A/HRC/7/7 A/HRC/7/7/Add.1 A/HRC/7/7/Add.5 | |
| 2007 | GA 62nd session | Country situations by region in implementing certain paragraphs of GA resolution 61/151 The State as the primary holder of the use of force, also in light of the effects of the activities of PMSCs on the enjoyment of human rights | A/62/301 |
| HRC 4th session | The State as the primary holder of the use of force, also in light of the effects of the activities of PMSCs on the enjoyment of human rights | A/HRC/4/42 | |
| 2006 | GA 61st session | Methods of work adopted by the Working Group at its first session, analysis of the responses received to a questionnaire on its mandate and activities, and effects of the activities of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and security services on the international market on the enjoyment of human rights | A/61/341 |
| CHR 62nd session | Results of the Working Group’s first session, held in October 2005 (methods of work, priority areas of work, and future activities) Addendum: meeting held in February 2006 to complete the first session | E/CN.4/2006/11 E/CN.4/2006/11/Add.1 |