Topic: 2024-Private Military Contractors
Country: Austria
Delegate Name: Jaclyn Charbauski
Committee: Disarmament & International Security
Topic: Private Military Contractors
Country: Federal Republic of Austria
Delegate Name: Jaclyn Charbauski
School: Forest Hills Northern
It’s understandable for a country to want the strongest military to defend itself, but does that extend to paying companies for these services when they could be untrustworthy and dishonorable? Private military contractors(PMCs), independent corporations that offer military services to national governments, date back to the Middle Ages but were looked down on and restricted for an extended period. However, in 1980, during the Cold War, they gained popularity. They began to be used for many different tasks including logistics, infrastructure management, combat service support, consulting, and, in some cases, covert operations. Since then, the usage of private military contractors increased, and today more than 150 companies offer their services in over 50 countries. Minimal actions have been taken to address this issue. In 2006, the Montreux Document, which detailed that international law applies to private military and security companies, was signed and ratified. Private military contractors were then discussed by the United Nations in 2018, at the 39th and 40th meetings of the General Assembly. Here, it was said that “Private military and security companies, like mercenaries, can threaten the enjoyment of human rights, as some of their personnel are involved in violations of international humanitarian and human rights laws” meaning that, in recent times, the hiring of these services has been criticized once again.
The Federal Republic of Austria recognizes that there is no current policy on private military contractors in our country, and plans to abstain from their use. From our perspective, these operations can be deceitful and unsafe, because they are much like mercenary missions, which are illegal, according to the United Nations Mercenary Convention. In battle, loyalty may shift as a result of their want for financial gain, legality is not assured, and after the war, what is to happen to the personnel and weapons they own? Not to mention, PMC employees can be quite expensive, ranging from $400-1000 a day. Overall, Austria has thus far provided a positive example in which we have not fallen into the trend of contracting private military companies for core government functions.
However, Austria understands the benefits of PMCs, with their high-tech skills and far reach. Therefore, Austria asks of United Nations to promote a policy that allows for the use of PMCs, but limits them only to peacekeeping operations, to take care of global security and safety. Additionally, this policy would require every PMC to be registered and recognized, to better keep track of their motions. Austria feels this is the best solution because it allows for the use of these impressive services, but limits them so that they aren’t doing harm in this world. Austria acknowledges the need for a policy in our country as well and is ready to work toward this safer world.
Works Cited
United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law. “International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries.” 2020. legal.un.org/avl/ha/icruftm/icruftm.html
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA). “The Montreux Document.” 2023. www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/fdfa/foreign-policy/international-law/international-humanitarian-law/private-military-security-companies/montreux-document.html
The Warsaw Institute. “The Awakening of Private Military Companies.” 20 Aug. 2020. warsawinstitute.org/awakening-private-military-companies/
Berkeley Political Review. “Soldiers of Fortune: The Rise of Private Military Companies and Their Consequences on America’s Wars.” 25 Oct. 2017. bpr.studentorg.berkeley.edu/2017/10/25/soldiers-of-fortune-the-rise-of-private-military-companies-and-their-consequences-on-americas-wars/
The World from PRX. “Eastern Europe’s Private Armies.” 2 Aug. 2016. theworld.org/stories/2016/08/02/eastern-europes-private-armies
Encyclopedia Britannica. “Private Military Company (PMC).” 2 Nov. 2016. www.britannica.com/topic/private-military-firm
