Summer/Fall Research Assistance Sought for Shadow Report on Private Military and Security Industry
American University Washington College of Law’s Initiative for Human Rights in Business (IHRIB), a
project of the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law, is seeking research and writing assistance
for the drafting of a shadow report on the private military and security industry. The report, which is
being written and coordinated by an international team of academics, experts, and civil society
organizations, will examine the extent to which a subset of key signatory states are meeting their
commitments under the Montreux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and Good
Practices for States Related to Operations of Private Military and Security Companies During Armed
Conflict. Law school and graduate students and experts in the field are encouraged to apply.
Those interested in contributing to the shadow report will be asked to take on the research and writing
of particular sections of the report. These could include, but are not limited to, analyzing whether a
state is meeting existing international legal obligations as outlined in the Montreux Document; detailing
national legal and regulatory landscapes for the provision of private military and security services and
identifying gaps in the law; describing procedures for licensing, authorizing, or contracting for military
and security services and assessing implementation of those procedures; analyzing systems to monitor
the performance of contracts; compiling a list of serious incidents involving contractors; assessing the
strengths and weaknesses of criminal and civil accountability mechanisms; and identifying mechanisms
for access to remedy for victims of rights violations and assessing their effectiveness. The states for
which research assistance is needed include the U.S., U.K., Iraq, Afghanistan, and signatory states in
Latin America.
Qualified candidates must have strong research and writing skills, and should be able to work well in a
team. Candidates should be well-versed in human rights and humanitarian law, have a deep
understanding of the private military and security industry, and preferably should be able to
demonstrate previous research and writing on matters pertaining to the industry. The positions are not
remunerated, but all contributors will be acknowledged in the report and letters of recommendation
will be provided. For questions, or to apply, submit a cover letter and resume to Rebecca DeWinterSchmitt, Co-Director, IHRIB at rdewinter@rcn.com.