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UN calls for Iraq to continue to monitor private security companies
2011-06-16 17:38:08
BAGHDAD (Iba) .. UN official called on the Iraqi government to continue to regulate and control the activities of private military and private security in Iraq.
A statement of the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), the President of the United Nations Working Group on mercenaries, Jose Luis Gomez del Prado said in conclusion of his visit to Baghdad, should continue to the Government of Iraq to organize and control the activities of private military and private security, which is expected to continue its operations in the country.
The statement noted that during the past decade, Iraq was the scene of head of the operations of PMCs and PSCs.
A: A series of incidents leading undertaken by such companies, such as the shooting in the courtyard of the Eagles in 2007, and drew attention to the negative impact of the activities of these companies on the human rights of Iraqis, paid the incidents and reported violations in other parts of the world, efforts to ensure the accountability of security companies and their employees for violations of human rights.
He noted that the Working Group informed during his visit to Iraq that the number of incidents are carried out by private military and private security has decreased in recent years, and can be attributed to several factors Ktraja its military activities in Iraq (especially in the area of protection mobile) and the tightening of regulatory measures by the authorities Iraq and the efforts made by the United States to tighten control over private security contractors operating in Iraq.
And praised the working group, according to the statement, the efforts of Iraqi and U.S. authorities in this regard.
He added, In spite of the low number of accidents, Iraq is still suffering from the issue of the enjoyment of security contractors in the private sector legal immunity under Order No. 17 issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority.
He said: that this immunity prevented prosecution in Iraqi courts were no prosecutions in countries of origin for these companies successful noting that he and four years after the incident, the Eagles Square is still the case against the alleged perpetrators are pending in the courts of the United States.
The statement noted a positive development, as it included the status of forces agreement between Iraq and the United States in 2009 to lift the immunity rule for certain foreign security contractors in Iraq.
And went on: However it is not clear whether that includes the lifting of immunity for all contractors with the Government of the United States and whether it is implemented fully in operation in the Iraqi courts.
The statement, reiterated that the Del Prado: abolition of the immunity does not contribute to the provision of justice to those who were victims of gross violations of human rights that occurred before 2009.
The statement said: The Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 17 remains the legal basis adopted by the Government of Iraq to organize the work of private military and private security, in the opinion of the Working Group, it does not represent a strong foundation for the organization of the work of those companies.
He noted that Iraq has legislation regulating the work of security companies, but it is still pending since 2008, indicating that the Working Group urges the Government of Iraq to pass this legislation as a matter of priority.
He continued: Working Group is concerned about reports that the Government of Iraq has asked security companies terminate employees' contracts of Africans and Asians and refers to the need to comply with the state for its commitment to the international application of all systems in a non-discriminatory.
The statement quoted Faiza Patel, a member of the Working Group as saying: The security of the people is a core responsibility of the state, and outsourcing to provide security imposes risks that threaten human rights and the government of Iraq to remain vigilant and to allocate the necessary resources to ensure follow strict standards to regulate corporate security - whether international or Iraqi - and to ensure respect for human rights of the Iraqi people.
The Working Group, who visited Iraq at the invitation of the government, held meetings with representatives of the Ministries of Interior and Justice and the defense and human rights as well as members of the Supreme Judicial Council, parliamentarians and civil society organizations and representatives of the diplomatic corps and the security industry.
It is noted that the formation 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, in 2005 by what is known as the Human Rights Commission at the time.
The Working Group consists of five independent experts serving in their personal capacity and are Jose Luis Gomez del Prado (Chairman and Rapporteur, a Spain) and Faiza Patel (from Pakistan), Alexander Nikitin (Russia), Amada Benavides de Pérez (Colombia) and Najat Al-Hajjaji (of Libya). (End)
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2011-06-16 17:38:08
BAGHDAD (Iba) .. UN official called on the Iraqi government to continue to regulate and control the activities of private military and private security in Iraq.
A statement of the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), the President of the United Nations Working Group on mercenaries, Jose Luis Gomez del Prado said in conclusion of his visit to Baghdad, should continue to the Government of Iraq to organize and control the activities of private military and private security, which is expected to continue its operations in the country.
The statement noted that during the past decade, Iraq was the scene of head of the operations of PMCs and PSCs.
A: A series of incidents leading undertaken by such companies, such as the shooting in the courtyard of the Eagles in 2007, and drew attention to the negative impact of the activities of these companies on the human rights of Iraqis, paid the incidents and reported violations in other parts of the world, efforts to ensure the accountability of security companies and their employees for violations of human rights.
He noted that the Working Group informed during his visit to Iraq that the number of incidents are carried out by private military and private security has decreased in recent years, and can be attributed to several factors Ktraja its military activities in Iraq (especially in the area of protection mobile) and the tightening of regulatory measures by the authorities Iraq and the efforts made by the United States to tighten control over private security contractors operating in Iraq.
And praised the working group, according to the statement, the efforts of Iraqi and U.S. authorities in this regard.
He added, In spite of the low number of accidents, Iraq is still suffering from the issue of the enjoyment of security contractors in the private sector legal immunity under Order No. 17 issued by the Coalition Provisional Authority.
He said: that this immunity prevented prosecution in Iraqi courts were no prosecutions in countries of origin for these companies successful noting that he and four years after the incident, the Eagles Square is still the case against the alleged perpetrators are pending in the courts of the United States.
The statement noted a positive development, as it included the status of forces agreement between Iraq and the United States in 2009 to lift the immunity rule for certain foreign security contractors in Iraq.
And went on: However it is not clear whether that includes the lifting of immunity for all contractors with the Government of the United States and whether it is implemented fully in operation in the Iraqi courts.
The statement, reiterated that the Del Prado: abolition of the immunity does not contribute to the provision of justice to those who were victims of gross violations of human rights that occurred before 2009.
The statement said: The Coalition Provisional Authority Order No. 17 remains the legal basis adopted by the Government of Iraq to organize the work of private military and private security, in the opinion of the Working Group, it does not represent a strong foundation for the organization of the work of those companies.
He noted that Iraq has legislation regulating the work of security companies, but it is still pending since 2008, indicating that the Working Group urges the Government of Iraq to pass this legislation as a matter of priority.
He continued: Working Group is concerned about reports that the Government of Iraq has asked security companies terminate employees' contracts of Africans and Asians and refers to the need to comply with the state for its commitment to the international application of all systems in a non-discriminatory.
The statement quoted Faiza Patel, a member of the Working Group as saying: The security of the people is a core responsibility of the state, and outsourcing to provide security imposes risks that threaten human rights and the government of Iraq to remain vigilant and to allocate the necessary resources to ensure follow strict standards to regulate corporate security - whether international or Iraqi - and to ensure respect for human rights of the Iraqi people.
The Working Group, who visited Iraq at the invitation of the government, held meetings with representatives of the Ministries of Interior and Justice and the defense and human rights as well as members of the Supreme Judicial Council, parliamentarians and civil society organizations and representatives of the diplomatic corps and the security industry.
It is noted that the formation 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, in 2005 by what is known as the Human Rights Commission at the time.
The Working Group consists of five independent experts serving in their personal capacity and are Jose Luis Gomez del Prado (Chairman and Rapporteur, a Spain) and Faiza Patel (from Pakistan), Alexander Nikitin (Russia), Amada Benavides de Pérez (Colombia) and Najat Al-Hajjaji (of Libya). (End)
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