Human Rights Council
Tenth Session
Resolution 10/11. The use of mercenaries as a means of violating
human rights and impeding the exercise of
the right of peoples to self-determination
The Human Rights Council,
Recalling all previous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Human Rights
Council and the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, including General Assembly
resolution 63/164 of 18 December 2008 and Council resolution 7/21 of 28 March 2008, in which
the mandate of 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 self-determination was extended for a
period of three years and its tasks were outlined,
Recalling also all relevant resolutions that, inter alia, condemn any State that permits or
tolerates the recruitment, financing, training, assembly, transit or use of mercenaries with the
objective of overthrowing the Governments of States Members of the United Nations, especially
those of developing countries, or of fighting against national liberation movements, and recalling
further the relevant resolutions and international instruments adopted by the General Assembly,
the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the African Union and the Organization
of African Unity, inter alia, the Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa,
Reaffirming the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations
concerning the strict observance of the principles of sovereign equality, political independence,
the territorial integrity of States, the self-determination of peoples, the non-use of force or threat
of use of force in international relations and non-interference in affairs within the domestic
jurisdiction of States,
Reaffirming also that, by virtue of the principle of self-determination, all peoples have the
right to determine freely their political status and to pursue freely their economic, social and
cultural development,
Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly
Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter,
Alarmed and concerned about the threat posed by the activities of mercenaries to peace
and security in developing countries in various parts of the world, in particular in areas of
conflict,
Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative
effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from mercenary international
criminal activities,
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