Dangerous Partnership

The United Nations is increasingly hiring Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) for a wide array of security services. The UN’s leadership says these services are needed to protect the organization’s staff and worldwide operations from growing threats and unprecedented dangers. But many reports from governments, NGOs and the media have shown how PMSCs have committed serious human rights abuses, killed or injured innocent civilians, engaged in financial malfeasance and committed many other breaches of the law. Given the track record of these companies, serious questions arise as to whether PMSCs are appropriate UN partners for the complex task of creating a secure, just and lawful world. Opacity around the UN’s use of PMSCs has so far prevented a healthy debate.

This report aims to clarify the issue and reflect on its implications for the future of the UN. The report will consider the problems as well as possible solutions – not just through regulatory reform but also through re-thinking the UN’s approach to peace and security frameworks more generally. It is our hope to stimulate debate and discussion, so as to break through the silence and to re-think the role of a more democratic and effective UN in the years ahead.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Executive Summary

I – Introduction

II – The Private Military and Security Sector
Origins
Structure
Activities and Clients
Cozy Relations with Host Governments
Branding and Public Relations
Cultural Insensitivity, Aggression and Violence
Secrecy and Lack of Accountability

III – Expressions of Concern about PMSCs
Public Critics and Government Concerns
Concerns about UN use of PMSCs
Concerns expressed at the UN

IV – PMSCs at the UN
The Buildup
Recent Increase of Contracts
Services used by the UN
Compartmentalization?

V – Use of Disreputable Companies
DynCorp International
Saracen
G4S & ArmorGroup

VI – Weak Arguments for the UN’s Use of PMSCs
Lower Cost?
Rapid Deployment and Constant Availability?
Last Resort?

VII – Many Serious Problems

VIII – PMSCs in the Broader UN Security Framework
Change of Security Philosophy
“Integrated” Missions and Power Politics
“Robust” Peacekeeping “Bunkerization” of the UN

IX – Recent Developments in UN Policy
Guidelines for Armed Private Security
The PMSC Lobby

X – PMSCs: Part of the Problem, not the Solution

XI – Conclusion
Strong Guidelines, Rigorous Oversight and System-Wide Transparency
Rethinking Security

Acronyms
Appendix I – Evolution in UN Security Contracting, 2009-2010
Appendix II – Field Missions’ Use of Security Services, 2006-2011
Appendix III – Companies hired by the UN
Appendix IV – Select Bibliography

More in the PDF.