Topic: 2024-Private Military Contractors
Country: Belgium
Delegate Name: Nicole Schafer
Delegate: Nicole Schafer
Country: Belgium
Committee: DISEC
Topic: Private Military Contractors
Private Military Contractors have gained a lot of popularity in the past years throughout their role in history’s conflicts. Private military contractors usually act like a nation’s military or police, but are smaller and privately run. They rose to prominence in the mid 1900s and during the cold war. The UN has discussed these issues before, and one of their human rights groups, claiming that private military contractors (PMSCs) impede the basic rights of humans and impede on their free liberties, abusing their power. However, the UN is a big user of these PMSCs themselves.
Currently, there is no mechanism to keep these PMSCs accountable, posing major risks. Belgium wants to increase its spending on national defense and protection, especially with the war in Ukraine. Belgium also has many companies that build defense devices, especially engineering for aerospace. This is important since Belgium is the home for NATO. As a historically neutral country, Belgium has not needed to use private military contractors, but understands their risks. PMSCs make militaries something that can be bought and sold, which can be extremely dangerous to our future.
Belgium remains mostly neutral on this subject of PMSCs. While they recognize their harm to human rights and certain groups, they also recognize their value. Therefore, Belgium believes some laws must be made, especially about ethical behavior and accountability. However, PMSCs do play an invaluable role for good in many societies and this can not be taken away. Currently, there are laws banning mercenaries since 1989, but no strict ones on PMSCs. Belgium understands many countries may not be willing to give up some of their rights, so we must work together to find a compromise for all.
Sources:
https://www.gojil.eu/issues/31/31_article_kees.pdf
