Madam Chairperson / Rapporteur,
We ratify our delegation's support for your chairmanship and the mandate of this Working Group.
At the same time, we appreciate the circulation of the second revised version of the proposed international instrument for the regulation, monitoring and oversight of the activities of private military and security companies, which constitutes the main mandate of this Working Group.
Madam Chairperson / Rapporteur,
The scope of the activities of private military and security companies is broad and complex, including in many cases, conflict situations that threaten the lives and safety of civilians, in conflict or non-conflict situations.
Private military and security companies provide a wide range of services to States and non-State actors, including international organizations, private companies and non-governmental organizations.
In many cases, their activity, and in particular the abuses they commit against the human rights of the civilian population, escape the reach of national and international legislation, and therefore there are no effective mechanisms for accountability and redress for the victims.
There are countless concrete facts of human rights violations and abuses against prisoners in secret prisons, and against entire peoples, especially against children, women, peasants, indigenous peoples, and other groups, in contexts of conflict, but also in the context of commercial activities such as the extractive industry, which particularly affects developing countries.
We fully share the need to continue to make progress in the elaboration of an international instrument that is comprehensive and legally binding. A binding and universal document is the best way to duly protect human rights worldwide, on an equal footing.
In this regard, we reiterate Cuba's commitment to the work of the Working Group and assure our constructive participation in the analysis of this second revised version.
Thank you very much