Topic: Status of Defense Contractors and Non-National Combatants
Country: Cameroon
Delegate Name: Stuart Bentley
School: Traverse City West High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Cameroon position papers GLIMUN 2008 committees
Defense contractors and non-national military combatants have been used throughout history under a number of different aliases, and, just as in times past, some actions by non-national military forces in the modern day have resulted in blatant human rights abuse. Cameroon opposes all recruitment, use, financing and training of mercenaries, but Cameroon also recognizes that many countries around the world do support the use of defense contractors, especially the United States, and urges the regulation of said contractors.
Today, most defense contractors, once hired by a country, are granted immunity by local legislation and then become accountable only to the company with which they serve. This trend tends to let private soldiers do as they please with no threat of criminal charges. For example: in the war in Iraq there have been numerous reported incidents where private military contractors violated the human rights of the civilians. As of last year, not a single private soldier was charged with any crime. Cameroon believes that because most countries that afford private military forces cannot properly control them, a large part of the responsibility to regulate the contractors is up to the states that export them. Cameroon also urges the exporters of said contractors to not grant them immunity because immunity from prosecution will only lead to more international law violations.
Cameroon also hopes that countries that do import defense contractors create a system of regulation that licenses and sets up regulatory measures for contractors. Each country should make laws that describe the activities that private military forces are permitted to perform. Also, by licensing private military firms the country can insure the reliability of the contractors. The contractors should be properly trained in international law, the rules of engagement, and the rights of human beings, and they should also have a thorough background check performed upon them. Cameroon urges countries that import contractors to monitor them.
Although Cameroon does not support the training or financing of private military contractors on its soil, Cameroon recognizes that sometimes the importing of non-national combatants is necessary, and only looks for more regulation. Countries that import private security should effectively monitor and regulate their activity, and countries that export private security should regulate their prosecution. There must be more regulation to prevent human rights violations.
