Topic: 2024-Private Military Contractors
Country: Brazil
Delegate Name: Matthew Keith
Delegate Name: Matthew Keith
Country: Brazil
Committee: DISEC
Topic: Private Military Contractors
Private Military Contractors (PMCs) are stand-alone entities, separate from the government, that are usually hired to engage in various types of warfare. PMCs are sought-after assets by governments as they can substantially lower the cost of warfare while also allowing a government to influence a war without directly getting involved. Effectively making PMCs a grey area, as while they mitigate the cost of war, they allow countries to be secretive about their intentions in a conflict. As well as put foreign entities in a conflict they have no care for besides the check it comes with.
The Federative Republic of Brazil recognizes the importance of restrictions on PMCs. Brazil’s federal constitution mandates that all military be controlled by the government to ensure accountability and align with the interests of other countries. PMCs are forbidden within the borders of Brazil. Brazil also follows the framework of the Montreux Document, a multinational agreement guiding the regulation of PMCs as well as making sure they apply to humanitarian laws.
Brazil acknowledges the importance of preventing the misuse of PMCs in conflict zones. Brazil strongly believes in the monopoly of war, and that each country should be responsible for their war effort. Brazil also is actively advocating in the UN for stricter national regulation on PMCs and believes it is an important step in the prevention of human rights violations through the use of PMCs. As a key player in Latin America, Brazil is working closely with its neighbors to prevent the misuse of PMCs and encourages them to resist the use of PMCs in their conflicts, as the external usage of a PMC can threaten national security.
Brazil disagrees with the use of PMCs in humanitarian aid. In the need of the military for peacekeeping, Brazil works closely with the UN to ensure public control, making there no need for PMCs. Brazil believes aid should be carried out by state agencies and NGOs, not by the use of military might. The only instance a PMC could be of use is to help through their information network, not boots on the ground.
Bibliography
https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199743292/obo-9780199743292-0209.xml
https://www.icrc.org/en/document/ihl-and-private-military-security-companies-faq
https://www.montreuxdocument.org/about/montreux-document.html
