International Law

Privatizing War Private Military and Security Companies under Public International Law

Edited by Lindsey Cameron · Vincent Chetail
Cambridge University Press March 2013

Specifications

ISBN-13
9781107032408
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Publication
March 2013
Format
Hardback , 754 pages
Jurisdiction
International ? Countri(es) for reference only

Details

A growing number of states use private military and security companies (PMSCs) for a variety of tasks, which were traditionally fulfilled by soldiers. This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the law that applies to PMSCs active in situations of armed conflict, focusing on international humanitarian law. It examines the limits in international law on how states may use private actors, taking the debate beyond the question of whether PMSCs are mercenaries. The authors delve into issues such as how PMSCs are bound by humanitarian law, whether their staff are civilians or combatants, and how the use of force in self-defence relates to direct participation in hostilities, a key issue for an industry that operates by exploiting the right to use force in self-defence. Throughout, the authors identify how existing legal obligations, including under state and individual criminal responsibility should play a role in the regulation of the industry.

• Raises important and timely questions to ongoing debates on regulating the industry

• Explores the existing law and offers new insights

• Provides a detailed analysis on the key areas of international law from a unified perspective

Table of Contents

Foreword
Professor Marco Sassòli
ix
Acknowledgements
xvii
Table of cases
xix
Table of acronyms
xxxiii
Introduction
1
1       The limits on the right to resort to PMSCs
10
A       The limits imposed by international law on the use of armed force – jus ad bellum
10
1       Does the UN Charter prohibit delegation to private companies of states’ right to use armed force in self-defence?
10
2       PMSCs in peace support operations
17
3       Humanitarian organizations and the use of PMSCs
53
4       The prohibition of privateering and the use of private military and security companies
56
5       The prohibition of mercenarism
66
6       Conclusion
80
B       The limits imposed by the laws of war – jus in bello
80
1       Treaty-based limitations on the use of PMSCs
82
2       Implied limitations
91
3       Conclusion
113
C       The limits imposed by IHRL
113
1       The legality of delegating law enforcement under IHRL
113
D       Good faith
126
1       The principle of good faith in international law
127
2       Good faith and PMSCs
130
E       Conclusion
133
2       The international responsibility of states and its relevance for PMSCs
134
A       Attribution of acts of PMSCs under Article 4 ASR
136
1       A PMSC as a de jure state organ
136
2       The scope of state responsibility under Articles 4 and 7 ASR
158
B       The attribution to states of acts of PMSCs under Article 5 ASR
165
1       A PMSC as an entity empowered by internal law
166
2       The elements of governmental authority
172
C       The attribution of the conduct of PMSCs to states under Article 8 ASR
204
1       Instructions
205
2       Direction and control
209
3       The criterion of ‘instigation’
221
D       Concluding remarks on the attribution of the activities of PMSCs to states
223
E       The responsibility of states for activities of PMSCs due to a lack of due diligence
225
1       Preliminary considerations on due diligence
226
2       Sources of due diligence relevant for the activities of private military and security companies
228
3       Obligations arising from the requirement to exercise due diligence
251
4       Implications for contracting states of the duty to ensure respect for IHL and IHRL regarding PMSCs
262
5       Implications for territorial states to ensure respect of IHL and human rights
280
6       Implications for home states to ensure that human rights and humanitarian law are respected
282
F       Conclusion
286
3       The legal means through which PMSCs are bound by IHL
288
A       PMSCs as non-state actors
289
1       PMSCs (as companies) as a subject of international law
289
2       Beyond international personality: alternative avenues for binding PMSCs
305
B       PMSCs as the sum of their individual employees
350
1       IHL: an inter-state law with individuals as addressees
351
2       The direct applicability of IHL to individuals
366
4       The legal rules applicable to PMSCs and their personnel
383
A       Establishing the status of PMSC personnel under IHL
385
1       PMSCs and combatant or fighter status
386
2       PMSCs and other statuses under IHL
418
B       The impact of civilian status on the rights and duties of PMSCs: direct participation in hostilities
431
1       Consequences for PMSCs of directly participating in hostilities
432
2       Concept, elements and time frame of direct participation in hostilities: what counts are specific acts
436
C       The use of force by PMSC personnel in self-defence
455
1       The right to life does not entail an unqualified right to self-defence
457
2       Elements of self-defence from domestic criminal law, interpreted in the light of IHL
461
3       Scenarios on self-defence for a private armed guard of an occupation administration compound
484
D       The rules applicable to PMSCs tasked with law enforcement in armed conflicts
489
1       Identifying the applicable rules
489
2       Law enforcement rules under IHL
492
3       Law enforcement and human rights law
495
4       Law enforcement situations in armed conflict and occupation
499
E       Fleshing out the content of certain IHL obligations for civilians
524
1       Meeting the standards and conditions of internment and detention for POWs and civilians
524
2       Fundamental rights and freedoms
527
3       Recruitment
529
4       Providing aid
530
F.      Conclusion
537
5       The implementation of responsibility arising from violations of international law by PMSCs
539
A       Implementation of state responsibility
539
1       Implementation of state responsibility before international tribunals by other states
540
2       The review of implementation through treaty-body procedures
544
3       The legal actions of individuals against states
546
B       The means by which states can regulate the conduct and define the legal responsibility of PMSCs
570
1       International regulation
571
2       National regulation
575
C       Establishing international criminal responsibility
582
1       Corporate criminal responsibility
583
2       Individual criminal responsibility
597
3       Prosecuting individuals in national legal systems
623
4       Conclusion
626
D       Establishing civil responsibility
627
1       Establishing civil responsibility of PMSCs and their personnel
631
2       Problems of jurisdiction
648
3       Conclusion
661
E       Implementing PMSC responsibility through self-regulation
662
General Conclusion
672
Selected Bibliography
678
Index
708

About the Author

Lindsey Cameron
University of Geneva

Vincent Chetail
Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva

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