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Guns for Hire: A Study of The Possibilities of Attributing Unlawful Conduct of PMSCs to a Hiring State under International Law

Larsson Ljungsvik, Clara LU (2023) LAGF03 20232
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Syftet med uppsatsen är att presentera möjligheter att hänföra en PMSCs (Private Military and Security Company) överträdelser av internationell rätt till en kontrakterande Stat. Uppsatsen fokuserar på relevanta bestämmelser i ARSIWA som det huvudsakliga rättsliga ramverket för Statsansvar. Uppsatsen presenterar definitionen av PMSCs och relevanta egenskaper rörande dess arbetssätt och organisation.
En rättsdogmatisk metod tillämpas för att undersöka hur de relevanta artiklarna i ARSIWA bör tolkas och tillämpas på PMSCs. I den löpande analysen presenteras både de lege lata samt förs en normativ diskussion de lege feranda. Eftersom ramverket för Statsansvar har sitt ursprung ur de sekundära rättskällorna praxis och rättslitteratur har dessa... (More)
Syftet med uppsatsen är att presentera möjligheter att hänföra en PMSCs (Private Military and Security Company) överträdelser av internationell rätt till en kontrakterande Stat. Uppsatsen fokuserar på relevanta bestämmelser i ARSIWA som det huvudsakliga rättsliga ramverket för Statsansvar. Uppsatsen presenterar definitionen av PMSCs och relevanta egenskaper rörande dess arbetssätt och organisation.
En rättsdogmatisk metod tillämpas för att undersöka hur de relevanta artiklarna i ARSIWA bör tolkas och tillämpas på PMSCs. I den löpande analysen presenteras både de lege lata samt förs en normativ diskussion de lege feranda. Eftersom ramverket för Statsansvar har sitt ursprung ur de sekundära rättskällorna praxis och rättslitteratur har dessa källor haft omfattande tillämpning i uppsatsen.
Bristen på övervakning och transparens som råder inom PMSCs gör det svårt att dra långtgående slutsatser som kan tillämpas universellt på alla dessa typer av entiteter. Trots relativt omfattande forskning på ämnet verkar denna brist på insyn vara en av orsakerna till att någon specifik reglering av PMSCs ännu inte uppstått på den internationella rättens område. Möjligheten att hänföra PMSCs överträdelser av internationell rätt till en anlitande Stat är en fördelaktig utgångspunkt för att förhindra risken straffrihet för Stater. Uppsatsen fann att de mest relevanta artiklarna i relation till PMSCs är Artiklarna 5 och 8 i ARSIWA. Det är inte helt korrekt att påstå att det finns 'klyftor' i det rättsliga ramverket. Istället drar uppsatsen slutsatsen att det råder viss osäkerhet kring tillämpningen av vissa bestämmelser i ARSIWA till PMSCs, vilket leder till ineffektiva bedömningar. (Less)
Abstract
The aim of the thesis is to present the possibilities of attributing the unlawful conduct of a Private Military and Security Company (PMSC) to a contracting State. It focuses on relevant provisions of ARSIWA as the main legal framework on State responsibility for wrongful acts. It will focus on relevant characteristics of PMSCs that contribute to the assessment of these entities under the law of attribution.
A legal dogmatic method is employed to examine how the relevant Articles of ARSIWA should be interpreted and how they subsequently apply to PMSCs. The thesis adopts an international perspective throughout. The legal framework on State attribution is based on the secondary sources of law – case law and legal literature – which have... (More)
The aim of the thesis is to present the possibilities of attributing the unlawful conduct of a Private Military and Security Company (PMSC) to a contracting State. It focuses on relevant provisions of ARSIWA as the main legal framework on State responsibility for wrongful acts. It will focus on relevant characteristics of PMSCs that contribute to the assessment of these entities under the law of attribution.
A legal dogmatic method is employed to examine how the relevant Articles of ARSIWA should be interpreted and how they subsequently apply to PMSCs. The thesis adopts an international perspective throughout. The legal framework on State attribution is based on the secondary sources of law – case law and legal literature – which have been used extensively in the thesis.
The lack of monitoring and transparency prevailing in PMSCs makes it difficult to draw far-reaching conclusions that may apply universally for all PMSCs. This also seems to be the reason why, despite relatively extensive research on the subject, no specific regulation of PMSC has yet been introduced in international law. The possibility to attribute PMSCs violations of international law to a contracting State is a beneficial starting point to prevent the risk of impunity. The thesis found that while different provisions of ARSIWA may be applicable to PMSCs under varying circumstances, the most relevant Articles applicable to these entities are Articles 5 and 8 ARSI-WA. The definition of ‘elements of governmental authority’ and the suitable test for degree of control have been the main point of discussion. Claims that there are ‘gaps’ in the legal framework is not entirely accurate. The thesis concluded that there are uncertainties regarding certain provisions of ARSIWA in relation to PMSCs that causes inefficient assessments. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Larsson Ljungsvik, Clara LU
supervisor
organization
course
LAGF03 20232
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Folkrätt (en. public international law), ARSIWA, public international law, PMSC, State responsibility, Law on attribution
language
English
id
9143496
date added to LUP
2024-02-02 12:19:18
date last changed
2024-02-02 12:19:18
@misc{9143496,
  abstract     = {{The aim of the thesis is to present the possibilities of attributing the unlawful conduct of a Private Military and Security Company (PMSC) to a contracting State. It focuses on relevant provisions of ARSIWA as the main legal framework on State responsibility for wrongful acts. It will focus on relevant characteristics of PMSCs that contribute to the assessment of these entities under the law of attribution.
A legal dogmatic method is employed to examine how the relevant Articles of ARSIWA should be interpreted and how they subsequently apply to PMSCs. The thesis adopts an international perspective throughout. The legal framework on State attribution is based on the secondary sources of law – case law and legal literature – which have been used extensively in the thesis.
The lack of monitoring and transparency prevailing in PMSCs makes it difficult to draw far-reaching conclusions that may apply universally for all PMSCs. This also seems to be the reason why, despite relatively extensive research on the subject, no specific regulation of PMSC has yet been introduced in international law. The possibility to attribute PMSCs violations of international law to a contracting State is a beneficial starting point to prevent the risk of impunity. The thesis found that while different provisions of ARSIWA may be applicable to PMSCs under varying circumstances, the most relevant Articles applicable to these entities are Articles 5 and 8 ARSI-WA. The definition of ‘elements of governmental authority’ and the suitable test for degree of control have been the main point of discussion. Claims that there are ‘gaps’ in the legal framework is not entirely accurate. The thesis concluded that there are uncertainties regarding certain provisions of ARSIWA in relation to PMSCs that causes inefficient assessments.}},
  author       = {{Larsson Ljungsvik, Clara}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Guns for Hire: A Study of The Possibilities of Attributing Unlawful Conduct of PMSCs to a Hiring State under International Law}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}