A/HRC/10/14 page 5 European Group and Central Asia region. It also decided on the procedure to follow in drafting guidelines for regulations of private security and military companies. On 14 April 2008, at the conclusion of its third session, the Working Group issued a press release. 7. The Working Group held its fourth session in New York from 2 to 5 September 2008. It held discussions with Member States, United Nations departments including the Department for Peacekeeping Operations, the Office of Legal Affairs and the Department of Disarmament Affairs, representatives of civil society, academics, and representatives of private military and security companies. In particular, the fourth session was an occasion to discuss with relevant actors the key principles for a system of regulation of private military and security companies. 8. After having considered a number of country situations, the Working Group discussed forthcoming visits to the United States of America and Afghanistan, and decided to send letters of request, or renewed requests, to visit Chad, Iraq, South Africa and the Sudan, and followed up on country situations, including the conflict in Georgia. On 9 September 2008, at the conclusion of its fourth session, the Working Group issued a press release. 9. The Working Group held its fifth session in Geneva from 15 to 19 December 2008. It convened consultations with representatives of Member States, United Nations agencies and organs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Committee of the Red Cross, academics, non-governmental organizations and private military and security companies. The Working Group discussed ways to strengthen the international legal framework and also considered various allegations related to mercenary activity that it had received. The Working Group met with representatives of the permanent missions of Honduras and Ecuador to discuss follow-up to the Working Group’s visits to these countries with the respective Governments. Following the Working Group’s visit, the Government of Honduras acceded to the Convention. The authorities of Ecuador had taken all the necessary measures to become a party to the Convention, but due to the adoption of the new Constitution and the establishment of a new parliament, accession had been delayed. The Working Group also met with representatives of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to discuss the political and social situation in the eastern part of the country. The delegation welcomed the request of the Working Group to conduct a visit to the country. 10. The Working Group also decided that in compliance with Human Rights Council resolution 7/21 and General Assembly resolution 62/145 the next regional consultations would be held for the regions of Asia and Africa. In this respect, it also held meetings with a representative from the Permanent Mission of Egypt as Regional Coordinator of the African Group on matters related to human rights issues, and with the Permanent Representative of South Africa to inform about the goals of the regional consultations. B. Field missions Field mission to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 11. A delegation of the Working Group, composed of its Chairperson-Rapporteur and one member, visited the United Kingdom from 26 to 30 May 2008.