A/HRC/10/14
page 6
12. During the visit, the Working Group collected and analysed information on the system of
regulation of activities of private military and security companies registered in the
United Kingdom. In the process, the Working Group met with representatives from government
agencies, civil society, private military and security companies and an association of such
companies.
13. The Working Group recommended that the Government undertake a new comprehensive
inquiry into the status and regulation of private military and security companies in the
United Kingdom, make a policy choice between the six options for regulation elaborated in its
formerly publicized Green Paper, extend its supervision beyond the limited circle of companies
working on government contracts to the broader circle of British private military and security
companies working for foreign, international and private contractors, and take an active stand in
the United Nations towards the elaboration of new international regulatory instruments for the
private military and security industry.
14. The report of the mission, including its conclusions and recommendations, is contained in
an addendum to the present report.
Other missions in preparation or requested
15. The Working Group is currently preparing a mission to Afghanistan, scheduled for
February 2009, and envisages a visit to the United States of America in the course of 2009. By
letter dated 21 January 2008, the Government of Afghanistan accepted the request of the
Working Group to visit the country and in 2008, the Working Group has been coordinating with
the Government of Afghanistan the dates for its mission. At its fifth session, the Working
Group was informed by the Permanent Representative of Afghanistan that due to “technical
issues”, the visit of the Working Group would be postponed for at least a month, that is, not
before 15 March 2009.
16. The Working Group reiterates its appreciation to the Member States who have invited it to
visit, thus enabling it to fulfil its mandate. It has requested visits to the following countries:
Armenia, Azerbaijan, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana,
Iraq, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, the Sudan and Zimbabwe, and renews its appeal
for invitations.
17. In March 2007, the Working Group had requested a visit to Iraq and received a response
from the Government in April 2007 that the security situation in Iraq would not allow the
Working Group to work in an effective manner; the Government of Iraq would however look
forward to receiving the Working Group when the security situation improved. In October 2008,
the Working Group reiterated its request.
C. Regional consultations
18. The Working Group recognizes the importance of a regional perspective on the issue of the
prevalence and regulation of private military and security companies. The Working Group has so
far convened regional consultations for the Latin American and Caribbean region and for the
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