United Nations' Unions call for action ahead of the 2013 General Assembly about the credibility of mercenaries being used to carry out security and peacekeeping work. Their call is based on a report published by the United Nations’ Working Group on the use of mercenaries, which reveals that the UN is increasingly outsourcing contracts for armed guards, convoy security, security advice, risk assessment and transport services. This report is supported by Global Policy Forum’s report on the use of Private Military and Security Companies by the United Nations.
5 September, 2013 | UN office at Geneva - Staff Coordinating Council
United Nations' Unions appaled at the UN's use of mercenaries
Unions call for action ahead of 2013 General Assembly
UN Unions are today calling on United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki‐moon to urgently review its use of mercenaries to carry out security and peacekeeping work ahead of the 2013 General Assembly. UN Unions believe this practice is damaging the UN and putting staff at increasing risk, and taking place against the worrying backdrop of an attack on staff employment rights by UN management.
A report published this week by the United Nations’ own Working Group on the use of mercenaries reveals that the UN is increasingly outsourcing contracts for armed guards, convoy security, security advice, risk assessment and transport services.
The Working Group’s report, supported by the Global Policy Forum’s report on the use of Private Military and Security Companies by the United Nations, highlights the lack of credible guidelines to regulate mercenaries and describes how the UN has no way of checking whether mercenaries have previously committed human rights abuses.
The report also details how use of private military and security companies, such as Dyncorp International, can have a damaging effect on the UN’s reputation in key conflict zones around the world. At a time when UN staff are increasingly in the firing line across the globe, such reputational problems could put them at even greater risk as they try to assist countries and civilians in building peace and stability.
Ian Richards, president of the UN’s Geneva staff union, commented:
“The UN’s use of unscreened mercenaries is a real concern. Unions have been trying to tell Ban Ki-moon how this practice is increasingly putting the safety of UN staff in the field at risk. Today’s report, from the UN’s own working group, clearly supports our concerns and he must take immediate action.”
“At present Mr Ban is refusing to negotiate with unions as part of his concerted attack on the negotiating rights of UN staff. Consequently, UN staff unions have no negotiating channels to raise their concerns about being protected on the frontline by unscreened mercenaries. We are challenging this and at last month’s Memorial Service for staff and contractors who have lost their lives in service of the UN, presented the Secretary--‐General with a letter urging him to reinstate negotiating rights for unions.”
