Interactive Dialogue under Item 3: Working Group on mercenaries

Statement by Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)

Mr. President,

During the occupation of Iraq private security companies whose sole aim was to make profits were employed by different organs or states to extract information from prisoners but in so-doing breached international law and inflicted much suffering on Iraqis. Additionally, these companies deployed mercenaries who continued to violate international law and committed grave crimes yet neither the individuals, nor the companies, nor the benefactors were held accountable for the crimes and anguish inflicted on the people in Iraq.

In some cases, the international mercenaries get recruited and paid and the disburser awards them with residence as is the case in the United States. Some of these mercenaries were in Iraq and violated international human rights law, committed atrocities and crimes against humanity without any accountability, furthermore, the UN itself tried to legitimize their presence. Rather the UN should ban mercenaries across the globe and regular state forces should be exercised.

Finally, stricter licencing and regulating laws need to be established and implemented. As well, stricter monitoring and inspection systems must be a priority especially with regards to activities that violate international law and international humanitarian law. Lastly, States must establish and put in place justice systems and specific legal bodies in order to address and account for crimes committed by mercenaries and private militaries.

Thank you,