A/RES/59/178 Reaffirming further the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation among States in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, 4 Alarmed and concerned at the danger that the activities of mercenaries constitute to peace and security in developing countries, in particular in Africa and in small States, Deeply concerned at the loss of life, the substantial damage to property and the negative effects on the policy and economies of affected countries resulting from criminal mercenary activities, Extremely alarmed and concerned about recent mercenary activities in Africa and the threat they pose to the integrity of and respect for the constitutional order of those countries, Convinced that, notwithstanding the way in which they are used or the form that they take to acquire some semblance of legitimacy, mercenaries or mercenary-related activities are a threat to peace, security and the self-determination of peoples and an obstacle to the enjoyment of human rights by peoples, Takes note of the brief report prepared by the Office of the United 1. Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the question of the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination; 5 2. Welcomes the appointment of Shaista Shameem as Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the use of mercenaries as a means of impeding the exercise of the right of peoples to self-determination, and encourages her to continue and further advance the valuable work done and the important contributions made by Enrique Bernales Ballesteros in the sixteen years of his mandate; Reaffirms that the use of mercenaries and their recruitment, financing and 3. training are causes for grave concern to all States and violate the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations; Recognizes that armed conflict, terrorism, arms trafficking and covert 4. operations by third Powers, inter alia, encourage the demand for mercenaries on the global market; Urges all States to take the necessary steps and to exercise the utmost 5. vigilance against the menace posed by the activities of mercenaries and to take legislative measures to ensure that their territories and other territories under their control, as well as their nationals, are not used for the recruitment, assembly, financing, training and transit of mercenaries for the planning of activities designed to impede the right of peoples to self-determination, to destabilize or overthrow the Government of any State or to dismember or impair, totally or in part, the territorial integrity or political unity of sovereign and independent States conducting themselves in compliance with the right of peoples to self-determination; Requests all States to exercise the utmost vigilance against any kind of 6. recruitment, training, hiring or financing of mercenaries by private companies _______________ 4 5 2 Resolution 2625 (XXV), annex. See A/59/191.