Fifth session of the open-ended intergovernmental working group to elaborate the content of an international regulatory framework, without prejudging the nature thereof, relating to the activities of private military and security companies

On 28 September 2017, the Human Rights Council decided in its resolution 36/11 to establish a new open-ended intergovernmental working group, for a period of three years, with a mandate to elaborate the content of an international regulatory framework, without prejudging the nature thereof, to protect human rights and ensure accountability for violations and abuses relating to the activities of private military and security companies. The Human Rights Council has renewed the mandate of the open-ended intergovernmental working group (OEIGWG) in resolutions 45/16 and 54/11.

Since 2019, there have been five sessions of the OEIGWG.

In January 2024, the Chair-Rapporteur released the third draft instrument on an international regulatory framework on the regulation, monitoring of and oversight over the activities of private military and security companies (clean version and track version) and intersessional consultation on it took place on 22 and 23 February.

Following the consultation, the Chair-Rapporteur revised the third draft ahead of the fifth session of the OEIGWG, which took place in person from 15 to 19 April 2024 at Palais des Nations, room XXVI. The revised third draft instrument  served as the basis for negotiation at the fifth session.  The progress report on the fifth session will be made available closer to HRC 57. 

For further enquiries, please send a message to ohchr-igwg-pmsc@un.org