Editorial: Private military companies

This article is also available in

French

The private military and security industry is growing, with some estimating annual contracts to be in the $10-$20 billion range and others citing figures as high as $100 billion. The sharp increase in the number and size of private security and military companies took place after the end of the Cold War as private operators filled a security vacuum in weak or failed states, which coincided with the increasing privatization of the public sector and the globalization of business activities.

Download PDF

Continue reading #IRRC No. 863

All articles

Editorial: Private military companies author:

Interview with Andrew Bearpark author:

3 min read

The global reorganization of legitimate violence: military entrepreneurs and the private face of international humanitarian law author: James Cockayne

12 min read

Human rights obligations of non-state actors in conflict situations author: Andrew Clapham

14 min read

Business goes to war: private military/security companies and international humanitarian law author: Emanuela-Chiara Gillard

20 min read

Private military companies: their status under international humanitarian law and its impact on their regulation author: Lindsey Cameron

11 min read

Corporate actors: The legal status of mercenaries in armed conflict author: Katherine Fallah

5 min read

Promoting compliance of private security and military companies with international humanitarian law author: Benjamin Perrin

9 min read

Elements for contracting and regulating private security and military companies author: Michael Cottier

10 min read

Corporate civil liability for violations of international humanitarian law author: Eric Mongelard

11 min read

National implementation of international humanitarian law – Biannual update, January to June 2006 author:

3 min read

More about International Review of the Red Cross, Law and policy platform, Privatization of war , Current debates on IHL

article IRRC No. 914 Dec 2021

Editorial, Emerging voices: Increasing the diversity of voices featured in the International Review of the Red Cross author: Bruno Demeyere