Lou Pingeot, Policy Advisor at GPF, will speak on a panel convened by the UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries on Wednesday, 31 July 2013, 10:00-13:00 on the use of private military and security companies (PMSCs) by the United Nations. Lou is a longstanding expert on PMSCs and author of the well received GPF report "Dangerous Partnerships", which has opened an important debate around the UN's use of PMSCs. A wide range of observers and policymakers have expressed concern at the growing role of PMSCs and their lack of accountability. And yet the UN increasingly uses PMSCs for a wide range of services, including armed and unarmed security, risk assessment, security training, logistical support and consultancy.
July 26, 2013 | UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries
Panel Event: Use of private military and security companies at the United Nations
Convened by the Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries
Wednesday, 31 July 2013, 10:00 - 13:00
Conference Room 1, Conference Building
United Nations Headquarters, New York
The United Nations (UN) uses private military and security companies (PMSCs) extensively in a variety of activities and locations around the world. In light of concerns with respect to the outsourcing of security functions by the UN to private companies, the UN has recently adopted several policies on this matter. This panel aims to foster public awareness of the nature and extent of the UN’s use of PMSCs and to discuss the UN policies and practices with a view to identifying strategies to address any gaps and challenges.
Confirmed Panelists
Panel 1: Use of armed guards by the UN
- Mr. Stuart Groves – Former Chief Security Coordinator , Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
- Mr. Rick Cottam – United Nations Staff Union, International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
- Ms. Lou Pingeot – Policy Advisor, Global Policy Forum
Panel 2: Use of PMSCs by the UN in peace operations
- Mr. Mirko Sossai - University of Rome, Italy
- Ms. Åse Gilje Østensen - University of Bergen, Norway
- Mr. Sabelo Gumedze – Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, South Africa
Please kindly note that pre-registration is necessary to attend the event. To register your attendance, please send your name, title and affiliation to the secretariat of the Working Group (Natacha Foucard (nfoucard|ät|ohchr.org, +41 22 917 9458)/Junko Tadaki (jtadaki|ät|ohchr.org, +41 22 917 9298), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) by 26 July 2013.
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