Some aspects of the responsibility of state for actions in private war campaigns

• Main Authors: Romić Miodrag, Pavlović Gojko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Political Sciences, University of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Hercegovina and Institute for Political Studies, Belgrade, Serbia 2011-01-01
• Series: Politeia
• Subjects: private military companies; responsibility; state
• Online Access: http://scindeks-clanci.ceon.rs/data/pdf/2232-9641/2011/2232-96411102319R.pdf

This paper discusses the circumstances under which the misconduct of private security sector might engage the responsibility of their state sponsors under international law. From an international law perspective, stastes cannot evade responsibility merely by hiring a private actor to carry out certain functions. The conduct of private security companies is, under certain circumstances, attributed to the state, making that state responsible for any violation of international law committed by private security companies personnel. Even where no such attribution exists, the state might still be responsible for lack of due diligence to adequately regulate and control PMC conduct.