A/HRC/4/42 page 2 Summary 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, and its mandate is continued pursuant to Human Rights Council decision 1/102. The Working Group is composed of Ms. Najat Al-Hajjaji (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya), Ms. Amada Benavides de Pérez (Colombia), Mr. José Luis Gómez del Prado (Spain), Mr. Alexander Nikitin (Russian Federation) and Ms. Shaista Shameem (Fiji). Ms. Amada Benavides de Pérez served as Chairperson-Rapporteur throughout 2006. The present report is presented in accordance with the terms of the resolutions requesting that the Working Group report annually to the Human Rights Council on the progress made in the fulfilment of its mandate. The first part of the report provides an overview of the activities undertaken, including country visits by the Working Group to Honduras and Ecuador (see also A/HRC/4/42/Add.1-2), and extracts from communications sent and responses received from Governments. Correspondence and consultations with intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, and other actors, are also reflected. In accordance with relevant resolutions concerning the Working Group, it devotes part of the report to identifying and studying the effects of the activities of mercenaries and mercenary-related activities in different parts of the world, demonstrating the variety of situations and contemporary manifestations of mercenarism (chap. II on country situations). The Working Group elaborates on the theme of the State as the primary holder of the use of force, also in light of the effects of the activities of private military and private security companies on the enjoyment of human rights (chap. III, thematic issue). In this chapter, the Working Group provides an overview of normative developments, notably the status of the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, to which it welcomed the deposit by the Republic of Moldova of its instrument of accession to become the twenty-eighth State party (chap. IV on national, regional and international legislation/status of the Convention). The Working Group further describes its envisioned future activities, notably a process of regional round tables, hosted by States which have indicated their interest, leading to a global round table, and the establishment of an academic network (chap. V). The final chapter provides the conclusions and recommendations of the Working Group, noting the phenomenon of individuals recruited by private military and private security companies (PMSCs) to perform military services in armed conflicts, and a number of pertinent human rights issues concerned. The Working Group recommends, inter alia, that member States support the process of regional round tables and enable the Working Group to meet for three sessions annually (chap. VI).