A/HRC/4/42 page 23 B. Academic network 69. In its resolution 2005/2 establishing the Working Group, the Commission on Human Rights specifically asked it to “study and identify emerging issues, manifestations and trends regarding mercenaries or mercenary-related activities and their impact on human rights, particularly on the right of peoples to self-determination” and to “monitor and study the effects of the activities of private companies offering military assistance, consultancy and security services on the international market on the enjoyment of human rights, particularly the right of peoples to self-determination”. 70. To fulfil this mandate, the Working Group approved at its meeting in February 2006 its methods of work, with the objective, among others, to identify and prepare studies on new forms, manifestations and modalities of the activities of mercenaries and the activities of PMSCs. The Working Group has since considered the possibilities to establish a worldwide network of experts dedicated to study the activities related to mercenarism and monitoring of PMSCs, to support the conceptual and analytical work on this matter, and provide information on new tendencies on these manifestations around the world (E/CN.4/2006/11, para. 33). In its meeting with representatives of regional coordinators, the Working Group explored the possibility and invited Governments to propose academic institutions and individuals which could form part of this academic network. In terms of criteria for the identification of experts, it is intended that “in order to assure comparative representation of various national and regional approaches to regulating mercenarism, the Working Group will explore the possibility of consultancy and expertise from external experts of various regions” (E/CN.4/2006/11/Add.1, para. 30). 71. The Working Group will also make contact with experts, from all regions, having attended the series of three expert meetings hosted by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights between 2001-2004, and whose contributions specifically analysed the manifestations and tendencies of mercenary activities in the dawn of the twenty-first century. It is intended that those interested among these experts would provide part of a core group of the academic network, for the elaboration of research output, and that an electronic resource be developed and dedicated to the activities of the academic network. VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 72. The Working Group welcomes the cooperation it has received from States towards fulfilling its mandate. The Working Group invites all Governments to cooperate, including by means of following up on communications and by extending invitations for the Working Group to visit, and by sharing their experiences of efforts to address the issues of mercenarism, mercenary-related activities and the activities of private military and private security companies. 73. On the basis of its activities in 2006, the Working Group draws the attention to the phenomenon by which individuals from Latin America, and other regions, are being recruited by PMSCs to perform military services in zones of international or non-international armed conflict, with a number of pertinent human rights issues concerning: (a) the civilians affected in countries of conflict; (b) the individuals recruited by PMSCs; and (c) and the related responsibilities of States and PMSCs, respectively. The