Welcome to the United Nations 
OHCHR 
Working Group on the use of mercenaries
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
About the mandate
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 was established in July 2005 pursuant to Commission on Human Rights resolution 2005/2. It succeeded the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the use of mercenaries, which had been in existence since 1987.
Since 2005, the Human Rights Council has renewed the mandate of the Working Group several times, most recently in 2022 for a period of three years through resolution 51/13. The General Assembly also regularly adopts resolutions on the use of mercenaries that touch on the activities of the Working Group, most recently through resolution 78/191 in 2023.
Learn more about the Working Group and its methods of work
About the members
The Working Group is composed of five independent experts, of balanced geographical representation, who are elected by the Human Rights Council for a period of three years, which can be renewed once for an additional three years. Ms. Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito (Serbia) was appointed to the position of Chair-Rapporteur in July 2024.
Learn more about the Chair-Rapporteur and the other members of the Working Group
Key documents
Mercenarism and private military and security companies (2018)
This document provides an overview of the work carried out by 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.
Concept Note on a Possible Legally Binding Instrument (2016)
This document contributes to the discussion on a possible legally binding instrument on private military and security companies (PMSCs). It outlines the Working Group’s revised main elements informing the revision of the existing Draft of a possible Convention on PMSCs.
Latest thematic reports
Latest country reports
Contact Information
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
OHCHR-UNOG
8-14 Avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneve 10, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 22 918 98 45
Fax: +41 (0) 22 917 90 06
Email: hrc-wg-mercenaries@un.org
Connect with UN Special Procedures on X:
@Un_spexperts
Activities
Replies from the ICC Prosecutor regarding the Situation in the State of Palestine
26 April 2023 and 12 May 2023
32 UN experts issue a joint letter to the ICC Prosecutor regarding the Situation in the State of Palestine and Annex
23 March 2023
Videos
12 September 2024
Statement by the Working Group on the use of mercenaries at the 57th session of the Human Rights Council
Watch on YouTube
5 October 2020
Joint online PI-OHCHR event on new report presented by Working Group on the use of mercenaries
Watch on YouTube