Getting Away With Murder

War on Want protesters outside the 2007 meeting of the British Association of Private Security Companies. © Touko Sipiläinen

Killings and human rights abuses by private armies in Iraq have dominated the headlines. There are currently tens of thousands of mercenaries working for private military and security companies (PMSCs) outside legal or democratic control. Both the US and Iraqi governments have begun to take action to control these mercenary armies. Yet the UK government has failed to act, despite UK companies being some of the biggest players in the industry.

War on Want calls on the UK government to move towards legislation to control the PMSC sector as an urgent priority. Self-regulation by the industry is not an option. Legislation must outlaw PMSC involvement in all forms of direct combat and combat support, as understood in their widest possible senses.

Please take action now and write to your MP urging them to call on the Foreign Secretary to introduce legislation regulating private military and security companies as a matter of urgency.

---

Getting Away With Murder[pdf]: Read about the tens of thousands of mercenaries in Iraq who are committing human rights abuses and operating outside the law.

Ask the Foreign Secretary to introduce legislation on Private Armies now: Write to David Miliband, Foreign Secretary, to call on the Government to move towards binding legislation to control the PMSC sector.

Corporate Mercenaries Homepage: Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) sell security and military services at home and overseas. They are now in the corporate boardroom and becoming a ‘normal’ part of the military sector.

Mercenary Trophy Videos: Download videos of Aegis and Blackwater mercenaries at work in Iraq.

Corporations and Conflict: War on Want's corporations and conflict campaign peels away the pleasant veneer of 'corporate social responsibility', and examines the real role corporations play in conflict - and the human costs that result.