Private Military and Security Companies: A model for control

Many States now utilise Private Military Security Companies (PMSC) to protect overseas assets such as embassies and diplomats. State participation with PMSC brings into focus the oversight of such non-state actors in high risk environments, providing as yet unresolved challenges for the observance of International Humanitarian, Human Rights and Criminal Law. The 32nd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in December, 2015 failed to agree on a mechanism to strengthen PMSC compliance. Instead, States resolved to create an inter-governmental process to further explore ways to strengthen compliance. This presentation will suggest a new model for regulating PMSC that overcomes many of the obstacles.

Prof. Pauline Collins (speaker) is an Associate Professor at University of Southern Queensland. She teaches dispute resolution in the Bachelor of Laws and Juris Doctor. Pauline’s PhD was in the area of civil-military relations and the role of the courts (University of Queensland). She has research interest in and has been published in academic journals on matters such as legal education, IR laws, alternative dispute resolution, international law and private military companies. Prior to joining USQ Pauline was a legal practitioner in South Australia working in general practice, Parliamentary Counsel, the Crown Solicitors Office, and the office of the Director of Public Prosecution. She was a member of the International Law Association Committee on Non-State Actors that presented their final report at the ILA Convention in Sth Africa 2016. Pauline appears in Who’s Who Queensland and in addition to her legal qualifications has degrees in visual arts, public relations and is a Nationally Qualified mediator.

doc. JUDr. PhDr. Veronika Bílková, Ph.D., E.MA (chair), je výzkumnou pracovnicí Ústavu mezinárodních vztahů. Věnuje se mezinárodnímu právu se specializací na mezinárodní humanitární a trestní právo a lidským právům. Koordinuje Centrum mezinárodního práva ÚMV, vyučuje na Právnické fakultě Univerzity Karlovy a je členkou Evropské komise pro šíření demokracie prostřednictvím práva (tzv. Benátské komise).