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International Initiatives

At the international level, the need to clarify applicable international legal standards and to promote good practice in relation to the global private security industry has given impetus to the two complementary and innovative international initiatives: the Montreux Document and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC). These initiatives, presented below, set out legal obligations and propose good practices for States and the private security sector respectively. Human rights concerns are also at the heart of a multi-stakeholder initiative, the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs). The VPs focus on a significant constituency of PSC clients – extractive industries.

The criteria and good practices relating to the conduct of private security providers are formulated in the context of the discussion surrounding business and human rights, codified in the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). Initiatives have also emerged at the United Nations to address this problematic, in particular the Draft Convention on Private Military and Security Companies.

These normative developments provide a frame of reference to support the adoption of effective regulation of the private security sector and to promote its good governance, in compliance with international humanitarian law and human rights. These international regulations and initiatives also promote a multi-stakeholder approach, providing important entry points for CSOs to work with othr actors (both public and private) to generate positive synergies at national, regional and international levels.

Montreux Document

The Montreux Document was adopted in 2008 by 17 States and is the result of a joint initiative by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC)

The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) is aimed directly at private security companies.

Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs), established in 2000, is a multi-stakeholder initiative involving States, companies and CSOs.

Other international initiatives

Other documents and international standards or initiatives also deal with good governance of the private security sector.