A/HRC/21/43
situations, by a letter dated 16 September 2011 the Working Group renewed its previous
request to visit Côte d’Ivoire. That request was accepted by the Government of Côte
d’Ivoire in a letter dated 14 November 2011.
7.
The fifteenth session was held in Geneva from 12 to 16 March 2012. At that session,
the Working Group consulted representatives of Member States, the Department of Safety
and Security, the United Nations Children’s Fund and non-governmental organizations. It
decided to submit comments on the draft Charter of the Oversight Mechanism for the
International Code of Conduct on Private Security Service Providers. It also met the UnderSecretary-General for Safety and Security to discuss the development of United Nations
policies regarding the use of armed private security companies by United Nations organs
and agencies. It welcomed efforts within the United Nations system to develop a coherent,
human-rights-compliant policy framework for the procurement and use of armed private
security companies, including relevant criteria, and agreed to continue to engage with the
Department of Safety and Security in that process.
8.
After considering several country situations, the Working Group requested visits to
Libya and Somalia. By a letter dated 26 April 2012, the Government of Libya accepted the
request.
B.
Communications
9.
The Working Group sent two communications and one follow-up letter to
Governments relating to alleged mercenary activities and to the activities of private military
and security companies and their impact on human rights. The Working Group expresses its
appreciation to those Governments that provided substantive replies to its communications
and invites those that have not replied to do so, in accordance with the mandate from the
Human Rights Council and the General Assembly.
C.
Comments on the draft Charter of the Oversight Mechanism for the
International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers
10.
On 16 January 2012, the Temporary Steering Committee of the International Code
of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers issued the draft Charter of the Oversight
Mechanism for the Code for public consultation. By a letter dated 30 March 2012, the
Working Group submitted its comments on the draft Charter. These comments are
discussed further below.
D.
Comments on the Swiss draft federal law on the provision of private
security services abroad
11.
On 12 October 2011, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Government
of Switzerland issued a draft federal law on the provision of private security services
abroad for public consultation. The Working Group welcomed this open and transparent
process and, by a letter dated 31 January 2012, submitted its comments. The Swiss draft
law is discussed further below.
E.
Other activities of the Working Group members
12.
The Working Group signed an amicus curiae brief submitted by Human Rights First
to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the cases of Al-Shimari v.
4
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