Sessions

The Working Group on the use of mercenaries meets three times per year, twice in Geneva and once in New York. Currently, the sessions planned for 2024 are as follows:

• 15 - 19 April 2024 (Geneva)
• 22 – 26 July 2024 (New York)
• 18 - 22 November 2024 (Geneva)

The sessions provide an important opportunity for the experts of the Working Group to come together in person for internal planning and strategizing on the implementation of the mandate. Generally, the sessions are held in closed meetings during which the Working Group covers a wide range of issues, including, among other things, thematic work, communications and specific country engagement.

The holding of the sessions also presents a useful convening capacity for the Working Group to reach out to a range of stakeholders Member States, civil society, UN entities and other stakeholders. The Working Group consults with these actors on its thematic priorities and seeks cooperation and synergy.

The Working Group reports on the sessions held in its annual reports to the Human Rights Council along with other activities undertaken during the reporting period.

If you wish to participate in-person to the session of the Working Group, please contact the Secretariat through email at hrc-wg-mercenaries@un.org, at least one month prior to the beginning of the session.

Once a request for a meeting with the Working Group has been agreed upon, individuals will receive instructions from the Secretariat on how to register. Please note that the Working Group does not send letters of invitation and cannot assist with visa requests, travel or accommodation related to the participation of victims, survivors, civil society, national human rights institutions and other actors in the sessions.