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Take Action! Email the Foreign Secretary about PMSCs

There are hundreds of Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) operating in more than 50 countries worldwide. They work for governments, international institutions and corporations.

The potential for human rights abuses in such situations is an ever-present threat, yet it is nearly impossible to hold PMSCs to account. In the UK, there is no legislation regulating PMSCs or their activities.

Write to David Miliband, Foreign Secretary, to call on the Government to move towards binding legislation to control the PMSC sector.

To:

Dear David Miliband

There are hundreds of Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) operating in more than 50 countries worldwide. They work for governments, international institutions and corporations. PMSCs have grown exponentially in recent years. Iraqi contracts boosted the annual revenue of UK PMSCs alone from £320 million in 2003 to more than £1.8 billion in 2004. The potential for human rights abuses in such situations is an ever-present threat, yet it is nearly impossible to hold PMSCs to account. In the UK, there is no legislation regulating PMSCs or their activities.

The UK government demonstrated that it was acutely aware of many of the problems posed by PMSCs when it published its Green Paper in 2002. However, five years on the UK government has failed to introduce legislation to take forward any of the options presented in the Green Paper.

Self-regulation by this industry is not appropriate. The UK government must move towards binding legislation to control the PMSC sector. I urge you to ensure that legislation to regulate Private Military and Security Companies is introduced as a matter of urgency.

Yours sincerely

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Dear David Miliband<p></p> There are hundreds of Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) operating in more than 50 countries worldwide. They work for governments, international institutions and corporations. PMSCs have grown exponentially in recent years. Iraqi contracts boosted the annual revenue of UK PMSCs alone from £320 million in 2003 to more than £1.8 billion in 2004. The potential for human rights abuses in such situations is an ever-present threat, yet it is nearly impossible to hold PMSCs to account. In the UK, there is no legislation regulating PMSCs or their activities.<p></p> The UK government demonstrated that it was acutely aware of many of the problems posed by PMSCs when it published its Green Paper in 2002. However, five years on the UK government has failed to introduce legislation to take forward any of the options presented in the Green Paper.<p></p> Self-regulation by this industry is not appropriate. The UK government must move towards binding legislation to control the PMSC sector. I urge you to ensure that legislation to regulate Private Military and Security Companies is introduced as a matter of urgency.<p></p> Yours sincerely

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