A/HRC/42/36 Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Panama, Poland, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, Togo, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of), Zambia and Zimbabwe. Representatives of the State of Palestine, the European Union, the Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to selfdetermination, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Code of Conduct Association, the International Commission of Jurists, Centre Europe-tiers monde, the Centre for Socio-Eco-Nomic Development, the Independent National Commission on Human Rights of Burundi, the National Human Rights Commission of Côte d’Ivoire and Open Society Foundations were also present. C. Introductory remarks of the Chair-Rapporteur 7. In her introductory remarks, the Chair-Rapporteur stressed that the draft programme of work had been developed in line with paragraph 1 of resolution 36/11, which indicated that the working group should be informed by the discussion document on elements for an international regulatory framework on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies. That document was the outcome of extensive negotiations among delegations and regional groupings, and delegations had reiterated their support for it prior to the adoption of the resolution. 8. She recalled that notifications of the holding of the first session had been sent to all Member States to ensure their participation and that the Secretariat had widely disseminated information about the session to all stakeholders mentioned in the resolution. She expressed the hope that the working group would make progress in elaborating the regulatory framework in an open and transparent manner, with a view to better promoting and protecting the human rights of those who engaged with and were affected by the activities of private military and security companies. 9. In that context, the Chair-Rapporteur extended her sincere thanks to the regional coordinators who had engaged with her on the preparation of the draft programme of work. She thanked all delegations for their continued active engagement in the process and looked forward to a fruitful first session. III. Plenary discussion 10. During the plenary discussion, the representatives of Angola (on behalf of the African Group and in its national capacity), Algeria, Brazil, China, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, India, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) and the European Union delivered statements, which are available online.3 A member of the Working Group on the use of mercenaries took the floor, as did representatives of ICRC, the International Commission of Jurists and Centre Europe-tiers monde. Their statements are also available online. 11. Subsequent to the plenary discussion, the representatives of Iraq and the Islamic Republic of Iran made general statements, which are also available online. 12. The representative of Angola, on behalf of the African Group, congratulated South Africa for its leading role in the process of establishing the working group, and in particular Ambassador Mxakato-Diseko’s commitment throughout the years. The African Group had followed the work of the various mechanisms related to private military and security companies with great interest and appreciated the methodology chosen for the session, which enabled the sharing of views and opinions collaboratively and transparently. The representative reiterated the need to protect human rights and ensure accountability and responsibility for violations and abuses related to the activities of private military and 3 See www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/WGMilitary/Pages/IGWG.aspx. 3