A/HRC/33/43 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 13 July 2016 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-third session Agenda item 3 Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development 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 Note by the Secretariat The Secretariat has the honour to transmit to the Human Rights Council the 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. The report is part of the Working Group’s ongoing global study of national laws and regulations relating to private military and security companies. The present report focuses on the laws and regulations of six countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, four countries in the Asia and Pacific region and the United States of America in North America. The global study aims to assess existing national laws regarding private military and security companies and their effectiveness in protecting human rights and promoting accountability for violations. It also aims to identify any commonalities, good practices and regulatory gaps that may exist. GE.16-11943(E) 