A/HRC/24/45 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 1 July 2013 Original: English Human Rights Council Twenty-fourth session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development Annual report 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 Chairperson/Rapporteur: Anton Katz Summary The present report presents an overview of the Working Group’s activities in the period under review, including regular sessions of the Working Group, communications and country visits. The thematic part of this report presents findings of the Working Group’s ongoing survey of national laws and regulations relating to private military and/or security companies (PMSCs). In the present report, the Working Group focuses on laws and regulations from 13 African countries – namely, Botswana, Ghana, the Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda and Zimbabwe – and discusses trends and differences in regulatory approaches in these countries. The Working Group finds that, while there are common elements in laws of these countries, the diverse contexts at the national level affect the way in which PMSCs are regulated and the regulatory approach of each country significantly varies. The Working Group reiterates the need for effective regulations of the activities of PMSCs and invites all Member States to facilitate the Working Group’s study on national legislation, which aims to identify trends and good practices and to develop guidance for Member States in exercising effective oversight of the activities of PMSCs. GE.13-15372