EU Statement – UN General Assembly 3rd Committee: Interactive Dialogue on the use of mercenaries

Mr/s Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

We share the assessment of the Working Group that the use of mercenaries and mercenary-related actors has become a systemic issue having a negative impact on multiple States and armed conflicts and causes significant harm to civilian populations around the world.

The European Union remains deeply concerned about serious human rights violations and abuses in various parts of the world, such as torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, committed by the Wagner Group, a Russia-based unincorporated private military entity, as well as other similar unregulated private and military security entities, in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic (CAR), Sudan and Mozambique, among others.

We strongly oppose the financing of mercenaries since their activities pose a threat to international peace and security and contribute to human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law. The European Union's action on the international scene is guided by the principles that have inspired its own creation, development and enlargement, including the rule of law, human rights and respect for international law. In line with these, the European Union adopted restrictive measures against certain persons and entities involved in mercenary activities mainly due to due to their involvement in human rights abuses.

We would like to reiterate our position that the activities of mercenaries, a category specifically defined in international law, should not be confused with the activities of private military and private security companies, the use of which is legitimate and advisable in certain circumstances. As previously highlighted, the Working Group's work would be more effective if it were to focus more clearly on mercenaries and mercenary-related activities.

Chair-Rapporteur,

in its report, the Working Group notes that the actual financing of mercenaries and related actors is largely under-examined. We should appreciate if you would share any good practices to reduce financial support provided to these groups.

Thank you.