Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse: The Need for Special Measures Within the Private Security / Military Industry

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the implementation of special measures to protect women and children from sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) by private security companies (PSCs) and private military companies (PMCs) during peacekeeping missions. The author highlights a regulatory gap where UN-specific protections do not apply to private contractors, leaving them largely unregulated by express terms of international law.

• Private security and military companies (PSCs/PMCs) have seen unprecedented growth due to an oversupply of military labor after the Cold War, increased conflict in Africa and the Middle East, and perceived failures in United Nations peacekeeping efforts. These entities often operate without express regulation under international law, international humanitarian law, or international human rights law.
• There is a significant gap in the application of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) protections. The United Nations Secretary-General's Bulletin on Special Measures for the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (2003) and the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Task Force's Model Information Sheet apply to UN staff and national contingents, but not to personnel employed by PSCs and PMCs.
• The document cites the case of DynCorp as an example of misconduct within the private security industry, noting that employees were accused of running a prostitution ring in Bosnia, an event referred to as the 'DynCorp Disgrace'.
• In the absence of a specific regional legal framework for the private security sector, the author suggests utilizing the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, specifically article 18 (3), which requires States to protect the rights of women and children as stipulated in international conventions.

APA

Gumedze, S. (2007). Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse: The Need for Special Measures Within the Private Security / Military Industry. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/topics/peacekeeping-and-conflict-management/16-jan-2007-iss-today-sexual-exploitation-and-sexual-abuse-the-need-for-special-measures-within-the-private-security-military-industry

Chicago

Gumedze, Sabelo. Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse: The Need for Special Measures Within the Private Security / Military Industry. Institute for Security Studies, 2007. https://issafrica.org/topics/peacekeeping-and-conflict-management/16-jan-2007-iss-today-sexual-exploitation-and-sexual-abuse-the-need-for-special-measures-within-the-private-security-military-industry.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gumedze |first1=Sabelo |title=Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse: The Need for Special Measures Within the Private Security / Military Industry |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=16 January 2007 |url=https://issafrica.org/topics/peacekeeping-and-conflict-management/16-jan-2007-iss-today-sexual-exploitation-and-sexual-abuse-the-need-for-special-measures-within-the-private-security-military-industry |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gumedze2007sexual, author = {Gumedze, Sabelo}, title = {{Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse: The Need for Special Measures Within the Private Security / Military Industry}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2007}, month = jan, url = {https://issafrica.org/topics/peacekeeping-and-conflict-management/16-jan-2007-iss-today-sexual-exploitation-and-sexual-abuse-the-need-for-special-measures-within-the-private-security-military-industry}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }