Violations by mercenaries and private military and security companies highlight urgent need for maritime security oversight: UN experts

A growing reliance on private contractors to protect vessels, commercial shipping, offshore platforms, ports, and other maritime infrastructure has exposed human rights violations perpetrated by private military and security companies, mercenaries and others, UN experts said.

United Nations, 1 November 2022

A report presented to the General Assembly by the Working Group on the use of mercenaries explores how the maritime security sector has evolved as a direct response to the challenge of piracy and other threats, including interstate warfare or militarised disputes, and terrorism in multiple geographical regions.

As maritime security has become a focus of concern among States and other international actors, there is a trend towards the hybridisation of security provision at sea, where public and private security combine.

MORE >> Hybridisation of warfare.