The United Nations Working Group on the use of mercenaries today announced the start of a study on the use of private military and security companies (PMSCs) by the UN bodies worldwide...“The Working Group hopes to analyze the use of PMSCs by the United Nations on the ground and contribute to the development of a coherent UN-wide policy on this issue,” said human rights expert Anton Katz, who currently heads the Group...From 11 to 15 March, the Working Group also discussed the results of its recent country visits to Somalia and Honduras, and progress and next steps on initiatives involving the increasing use of private military and security contractors operating on the international market. The experts noted with interest and concern the reference by the Permanent Representative of the Syrian Arab Republic of the aggravating role that mercenaries play in the conflict in that State, in his presentation to the Human Rights Council.