Dawn: A non-profit organization that monitors the United Nations published a report Tuesday criticizing the UN’s growing use of private military and security companies.
The Global Policy Forum said the UN’s increasing use of these companies is “dangerous,” may increase rather than reduce threats and attacks on UN buildings and personnel, and suggests a system that is “unaccountable and out of control.”
According to the report, incomplete UN data shows a steady rise in the number of security contracts from 2006-2007, with the value increasing from $44 million in 2009 to $76 million in 2010, the latest data available.
The majority of contracts in 2010, $30 million worth, were for activities by the UN Development Program followed by $18.5 million for UN peacekeeping operations and $12.2 million for UN refugee activities, it said.
The report said the overall value of contracts is likely to be considerably higher because data from some UN bodies, like the UN children’s agency Unicef, is not included or incomplete.
UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said the United Nations believes it is appropriate to use armed private security contractors if the organization ensures “due diligence” in its operations.
Categories: Behaviour, Europe, Firearrms/ammunition, Interesting Facts, Politics, Power