PRIVATE MILITARY COMPANIES AND THE FUTURE OF CONFLICT – AGA PANEL DISCUSSION, DEC 7, 2022

Private military companies (PMCs) are playing an increasingly high-profile role in many conflict settings around the world. The war in Ukraine and evidence of Russian mercenaries in a growing number of countries, raise serious questions about accountability and remedy. Security companies, military contractors, mercenaries… what distinguishes these different categories of private actors? What role do PMCs play, can they operate responsibility, what are the laws applicable and how can they be held to account? This panel discussion considers the growing importance of PMCs and what role, if any, ICoCA, law and regulation might play in promoting human rights observance and strengthening accountability in what is often considered an opaque and disreputable industry.

Time: 14:00-15:30

Panelists:

• Dr. Alessandro Arduino, Principal Research Fellow, Middle East Institute (MEI), National University of Singapore & Associate, Lau China Institute, King’s College London
• Dr. Gloria Gaggioli, Director, Geneva Academy & Associate/SNF Professor, University of Geneva
• Dr. Sorcha MacLeod, Marie Curie Fellow & Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark & Chair, UN Working Group on Mercenaries
• Dr. Ori Swed, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Texas Tech University

Moderator: Vincent Bernard, Senior Policy Advisor, ICoCA

Venue: Fédération des Entreprises Romandes Genève, Rue de Saint-Jean 98, 1201 Geneva

Organised in partnership with the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights