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. The Working Group is composed of five independent experts, of balanced geographical representation.

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 74/138 in 2019.

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. Mr. Carlos Salazar Couto (Peru) was appointed to the position of Chair-Rapporteur in November 2022.

Learn more about the Chair-Rapporteur and the other members of the Working Group