Private military companies (PMCs) and international criminal law : are PMCs the new perpetrators of international crimes ?
Author zone:
Stella Ageli
Host item entries:
Amsterdam law forum, Vol. 8, no. 1, Spring 2016, p. 28-47
Languages:
English
General Note:
Photocopies
Abstract:
The extensive use of private military companies (PMCs) in conflict areas in the last 30 years has raised concern in the academic community regarding the participation of private companies in the conduct of war. For example, academics incite issues of legitimacy, the role of the state and the legal status of PMCs especially when they take a direct part in the hostilities. In this context, PMCs have been often accused of committing serious crimes during their involvement in the hostilities. The important question regarding their possible criminal activity is whether these serious crimes fall into the category of international law and more specifically international criminal law. This article examines firstly, whether PMCs actually commit serious crimes and secondly, if these crimes constitute violations of international law, namely, international crimes.
By entering this website, you consent to the use of technologies, such as cookies and analytics, to customise content, advertising and provide social media features. This will be used to analyse traffic to the website, allowing us to understand visitor preferences and improving our services. Learn more