Twenty years ago, the end of the Cold War threw thousands of soldiers to unemployment. Today they work for private companies that provide security and military services to an increasing number of states. NGOs and affected civilians denounce human rights violations perpetrated by military companies while the lack of legislation protects contractors employees from any punishment.

In the last five years the routes passing through the Red Sea towards the Suez Channel have been seriously disturbed by the action of Somali pirates. Despite the measures taken by the UN Security Council and the European Union, the situation doesn’t seem to improve.