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Se trata el derecho internacional humanitario en el contexto del uso de la fuerza por entidades privadas. Se afirma que la forma cambiante de los conflictos armados y la privatización de fuerzas de seguridad presentan desafíos para el derecho internacional humanitario. En particular, se examinan las implicaciones de los actores armados no estatales, los conflictos asimétricos y de baja intensidad y la privatización a nivel internacional de actividades antes consideradas como proprias del estado.

Over the last fifteen years, functions traditionally performed by State security and military agencies have been outsourced to private military and security companies. States and other actors are hiring these companies to act in zones of armed conflict or post conflict situations. Iraq has been the most striking case in numbers and scale since the beginning of this process. The use of private security contractors raises some particularly sensitive issues regarding accountability and oversight. It has been claimed there is a vacuum in the law when it comes to the operations of these companies. However legislation already exists at both international and national levels: International Humanitarian Law, Iraqi and USA laws are applicable today to this sector. Nevertheless, as the Iraqi case shows, previous concepts and current legislations are insufficient and new developments are needed in order to adapt the law to the new realities arising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]