Countries are increasingly turning over their military operations to private military and security firms, which has raised the concern of international human rights experts.

A series of panel discussions at UN Headquarters this Thursday will look at the implications of what they describe as “the privatization of war.”

The event has been organized by the Working Group on the use of mercenaries, which monitors the activities of these so-called “soldiers of fortune” as well as private military contractors and foreign terrorist fighters.

The Working Group reports to the UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly.

Dianne Penn has been speaking to American law professor Gabor Rona, one of its members.

Duration: 4’52”