Click on this link to see what Doug Brooks from the IPOA said in the comments section. (I though it was funny)Anyways, I welcome the UNWG to the US and hope they have a good time. -Matt
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Mercenaries Organized in United States to be Examined by United Nations Working Group
July 19, 5:34
Lawrence Gist – LA County Foreign Policy Examiner
The United Nations 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 will carry out an official visit to the United States of America from July 20 to August 3, 2009.
“This visit comes at a moment where, I believe, the United States Government is seriously considering options to ensure adequate oversight and monitoring for private military and security companies (PMSCs) contracted by the United States government and operating abroad,” said the group’s Chairperson-Rapporteur, Shaista Shameem.
“It is crucial that the United States Government, as a major client of these companies, demonstrates its commitment to ensure full accountability of private military and security contractors for any possible violations of international human rights and humanitarian law,” added Shameem, who will be joined during the visit by José Luis Gomez del Prado, another member of the Working Group.
Earlier this year, the Working Group on the use of mercenaries made a five-day visit to Afghanistan and -in May 2008- carried out a similar mission to the United Kingdom.
The United Nations experts plan to meet with government officials, representatives of the United States Congress and Senate, civil society organizations and PMSCs in Washington DC, and with civil society organizations in New York.
The Working Group will in particular focus on questions of transparency and accountability of PMSCs and their personnel, instances and circumstances which may give rise to impunity of contractors for violations of human rights, as well as guarantees for ensuring that victims of violations have access to effective remedies. It will also look into the general trend towards the privatization of war and its consequences.
On August 3rd the Working Group will hold a Press Conference at the United Nations offices in Washington DC. Parallel to its official visit to the United States, the Working Group will hold their seventh session in New York (from July 27 to 31) and will in particular focus on their work on a possible international convention on the regulation, oversight and monitoring of PMSCs. On July 28, the Chairperson will take part in a public policy forum on the regulation of PMSCs organized by the International Peace Institute.
The Working Group is composed of five independent experts serving in their personal capacities, and headed by its Chairperson-Rapporteur, Shaista Shameem (Fiji). The other Working Group experts are: Najat al-Hajjaji (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Amada Benavides de Pérez (Colombia), José Luis Gómez del Prado (Spain), and Alexander Nikitin (Russian Federation).
Story here.
#1 by Eeben Barlow on Sunday, July 19, 2009 - 7:48 pm
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Hi Matt,
I can only hope their aim is not to publish a masterful piece of disinformation as they did with EO. Fortunately, Ballesteros is not part of it. Never forget that they see anyone who can do their job better for less money as a serious threat to their income, status and self-imposed importance.
Rgds,
Eeben
#2 by headjundi on Sunday, July 19, 2009 - 8:39 pm
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Hey Eeben,
Boy I hope they don't do that and we will keep our eye on the process I guess. I certainly hope the group recognizes the fact that there has been a lot of work done towards getting this industry on the right track.
By the way Eeben, your latest post about the UN was excellent, and the comments are captivating. I find myself just reading and learning, as opposed to adding to the discussion. Truly an education and take care.
Matt
#3 by Eeben Barlow on Sunday, July 19, 2009 - 9:48 pm
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Hi Matt,
Please keep an ear to the ground re the UNWG and if you guys hear a whiff of monkey-business, compromise it in the media as soon as possible. One thing the UN does not like is facts, so take care with them.
Thanks for your comment re the blog. I too learn from everyone who posts a comment so to me it is a constant school of learning.
Rgds,
Eeben
#4 by headjundi on Monday, August 3, 2009 - 6:15 am
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Here comes the news conference. Lets see what the gang has to say?
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(PMC) NEWS CONFERENCE – THE UNITED NATIONS
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;
FNS DAYBOOK
August 03, 2009 Monday
FINAL
EVENT: NEWS CONFERENCE – THE UNITED NATIONS 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;
LOCATION: United Nations Offices, 1775 K Street NW, Suite 430,
Washington, D.C. — August 3, 2009 2:00 PM
SUBJECT: The United Nations 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 holds a
news conference on the results of their fact-finding mission to
the United States, which focused on "questions of transparency
and accountability of private military and security companies and
their personnel, instances and circumstances which may give rise
to impunity of contractors for violations of human rights, as
well as guarantees for ensuring that victims of violations have
access to effective remedies."
CONTACT: Susan Markham, 917-367-3292