UN experts on use of mercenaries commend Armenia`s domestic legal  framework, urge greater oversight

ArmInfo. UN experts welcomed Armenia's commitment to combat the proliferating use of mercenaries and private security actors, urging greater oversight and stronger integration of human rights into its domestic policies.

During an eight-day official visit to the country, the UN Working  Group on the use of mercenaries and private military and security  companies gathered information on the laws and procedures  criminalising mercenary activities. They also focused on the  activities of private security companies and their impact on human  rights.

"Armenia stands out in its efforts to integrate the 1989 UN  Convention on Mercenaries in its domestic legislation, specifically  in Article 147 of the Criminal Code which provides for a definition  of mercenarism in compliance with international law," the experts  said in a statement issued at the end of the visit.

The experts received information that during a trial in Kapan, a  regional court applied the legal framework criminalising mercenarism  to convict two Syrian citizens for participating in military  operations during the hostilities. Both individuals were sentenced to  life in a trial that lasted only one day in May 2021.

The experts noted that the application of the legislation is at its  embryonic stage, and encouraged the Armenian judiciary to guarantee  that a victim-centred approach is applied in the future.

The experts also received information on the use of private security  companies in the country.

"We welcome the amended law on private security activities, which  establishes a clear regulatory framework for licensing and operations  of private security service providers, including in the monitoring of  demonstrations and crowd control," the Working Group said.

The experts also noted that Armenia had initiated a reform on cyber  security. "We urge the Government to ensure that laws regulating the  role of the private security in cyber operations is human-rights  compliant," they said.

Noting the increasing use of private security companies by extractive  industries, the UN experts expressed concern about the alleged  involvement of private security contractors in dealing with concerns  by local communities about the impact of these industries on their  livelihoods and human rights.

"We strongly recommend the establishment of an independent oversight  mechanism to monitor and oversee the private security sector," the  experts said. "Regular trainings on the provision of human-rights  compliant and gender sensitive security services should be  systematically delivered to private security guards," they said.

The delegation of experts held meetings in Yerevan with  representatives from governmental authorities, non-governmental  organisations, and legal representatives. They also met with affected  communities in Kapan and Goris.

The Working Group will present a full report of its findings and  recommendations to the Human Rights Council in September 2023.