RES/28/7 Renewal of the mandate of the open-ended intergovernmental working group to consider the possibility of elaborating an international regulatory framework on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies

GE.15-07253 (E)



Human Rights Council Twenty-eighth session

Agenda item 3

Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil,

political, economic, social and cultural rights,

including the right to development

Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council

28/7. Renewal of the mandate of the open-ended intergovernmental

working group to consider the possibility of elaborating an

international regulatory framework on the regulation, monitoring and

oversight of the activities of private military and security companies

The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations,

Recalling General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, and Human

Rights Council resolutions 5/1, on institution-building of the Council, and 5/2, on the Code

of Conduct for Special Procedures Mandate Holders, of 18 June 2007,

Recalling also all previous resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the

Commission on Human Rights and the Human Rights Council on the use of mercenaries as

a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-

determination,

Recalling further its resolution 15/26 of 1 October 2010 establishing the open-ended

intergovernmental working group to consider the possibility of elaborating an international

regulatory framework on the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of

private military and security companies,

Bearing in mind that the open-ended intergovernmental working group will present

its recommendations to the Human Rights Council at its thirtieth session,

1. Decides to extend the mandate of the open-ended intergovernmental working

group to consider the possibility of elaborating an international regulatory framework on

the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security

companies for a further period of two and a half years in order for it to undertake and fulfil

its mandate, as contained in Human Rights Council resolution 22/33 of 22 March 2013;

2. Affirms the importance of providing the open-ended intergovernmental

working group with the expertise and expert advice necessary to fulfil its mandate, and in

this context decides that the working group shall invite experts and all relevant stakeholders

to participate in its work, including members of the Working Group on the use of

mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the right of peoples to self-

determination;

3. Requests the Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner

for Human Rights to provide the open-ended intergovernmental working group with all the

financial and human resources necessary for the fulfilment of its mandate.

55th meeting

26 March 2015

[Adopted by a recorded vote of 32 to 13, with 2 abstentions. The voting was as follows:

In favour:

Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Botswana,

Brazil, China, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Gabon,

Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia,

Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Sierra

Leone, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic

of), Viet Nam

Against:

Albania, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Montenegro,

Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Korea, the former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Abstaining:

Kazakhstan, United States of America]