A/HRC/15/25 I. Introduction 1. In the present report, 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 describes the activities it has undertaken since it last reported to the Human Rights Council in March 2009. The report focuses in particular on the progress achieved in the elaboration of a possible draft convention on private military and security companies (PMSCs). It takes into consideration communications sent between 16 December 2008 and 18 April 2010. 2. The report is submitted pursuant to resolution 2005/2 of the Commission on Human Rights establishing the mandate of the Working Group and resolution 7/21 of 28 March 2008 extending the mandate of the Working Group. 3. The Working Group is composed of five independent experts serving in their personal capacities: José Luis Gómez del Prado (Spain), Chairperson during the period when this report was being drafted, Ms. Shaista Shameem (Fiji), Amada Benavides de Pérez (Colombia), Alexander Nikitin (Russian Federation) and Najat al-Hajjaji (Libyan Arab Jamahiriya). Ms. Shameem took on the chairmanship of the Working Group from April 2009 to April 2010. In April 2010, the Working Group decided to operate under a three-monthly rotating chairmanship for the last year of their mandate. II. Activities 4. In accordance with its usual practice, the Working Group continued to hold three regular sessions per year, two in Geneva and one in New York. The Working Group concentrated its efforts on its ongoing work on the development of a possible new international convention on the regulation of activities of PMSCs, discussed in detail in Part III of this report. It also carried out two country visits, held regular meetings with member States representatives, NGOs and experts and reviewed allegations regarding the activities of mercenaries and PMSCs and their impact on human rights and decided on appropriate action. 5. The Working Group has recently received information suggesting that in some instances PMSCs are supporting warlords and rebel groups. For instance, allegations suggest that in Afghanistan a number of PMSCs contracted by the Government of the United States have a privileged relationship with the Taliban. Others suggest that a German PMSC is considering deploying a significant number of military guards to Somalia to train warlord groups close to the self-proclaimed but not internationally recognized President of Somalia, Abdinur Ahmed Darman. 6. The collusion between PMSCs and rebel groups is a worrisome trend which calls for further attention, in particular in view of its potential impact on the enjoyment of human rights. Accordingly, the Working Group intends to engage in the near future with the authorities of the Governments concerned, seeking additional information with respect to both situations described below with a view to reminding all States of their responsibilities when contracting PMSCs and of the possible negative implications when PMSCs operate in conflict zones without a legal framework or mechanism to ensure that they respect international human rights and humanitarian law. 4 GE.10-15155