The emergence and rapid growth of private military companies (PMCs)
and private security companies (PSCs) in the 1990s followed from
the downsizing of the armed forces in the aftermath of the Cold
War and the development of many new conflicts which increased demand
for military manpower and expertise. The redefinition of security
strategies and the restructuring of armed forces by Western governments
resulted in the elimination of non-core activities from the functions
of many armed forces. These have increasingly been filled through
various forms of alternative service delivery, in particular being
outsourced to PMCs and PSCs.
Today, private military companies (PMCs) and private
security companies (PSCs) constitute an important component of the
security sector. The privatisation of security functions is being
seen not only with regard to the armed forces, but also the police
and penal services.
Draft Global Code of Conduct for Private Security Companies and Private Military Companies
The first draft of the “Global Code of Conduct for Private Security Companies and Private Military Companies” is now available for public consultation. This draft Code is the result of an active collaboration of members of the private security industry along with the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (ADH) to support the development of a Global Code of Conduct (CoC) that lays down international industry norms and standards for the provision of private security services. Also actively involved in the drafting process are representatives from US and UK governments. Draft CoC (pdf 80 kb) CoC Factsheet (pdf 100 kb)
Holding Military and Security Contractors Accountable - the Call for a Global Code of Conduct
Washington, D.C., 28 October 2009
This briefing, organized jointly by DCAF and Human Rights First, seeks to raise awareness in the US Congress and amongst civil society of the development of a global Code of Conduct for the private military and security industry.
DCAF, partnered with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (ADH), is supporting the elaboration of this global Code of Conduct that lays down international PMSC industry norms and standards for the provision of private security services
Working Towards an International PMSC Code of Conduct
Nyon, 4-6 June 2009
In partnership with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights and Wilton Park, DCAF organized a conference in Nyon, Switzerland on 4-6 June 2009 entitled "Working Towards an International PMSC Code of Conduct".
In preparation for the conference, DCAF also organized a series of workshops and consultations on the feasibility and scope of such a potential international Code of Conduct. These workshops and consultations brought together various stakeholders, including the PMSC industry and its trade associations, governments, the extractive industry, humanitarian and intergovernmental organizations, civil society and academics. Reports of these workshops and consultations may be found here:
>>Report I
>>Report II
>>Report II Addendum
>>Report III
Attending the conference in Nyon were representatives of the various stakeholders. Discussion over the two days focused on practical ways to raise standards and hold PMSCs accountable through an industry Code of Conduct. For full details of the conference, including a report of the discussion, please see the Wilton Park website.
At the conclusion of the conference, the three major PMSC industry associations issued a statement that they would pursue and develop an international code of conduct.
Council of Europe draft resolution on PMSCs
Strasbourg 22 December 2008
The Political Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted the draft report and resolution on "Private military and security firms and the erosion of the state monopoly on the use of force" . The resolution calls for a Council of Europe instrument to regulate and to lay down minimum standards for the private military and security companies. DCAF provided a background study for this report and resolution. Link to full text of DCAF study is here and and the summary can be found here.
Final Meeting of the Swiss Initiative on Private
Military and Security Companies
Montreux, 15 - 17 September 2008
After nearly three years of meetings between states,
NGOs and industry representatives, seventeen states endorsed the
Montreux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and
Good Practices of States Related to Operations of Private Military
and Security Companies during Armed Conflict ("Montreux Document").
DCAF has been involved with the initiative since its inception,
and created the website www.privatesecurityregulation.net
as a resource in support of its work.
Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Hearing
on Private Military and Security Firms
Paris, 10 September 2008
DCAF attended a hearing of the Parliamentary Assembly
for the Council of Europe (PACE) on Private Military and Security
Firms, where they presented their report to the PACE on recommendations
for regulation of private military and security companies (PMSCs).
Also present at the hearing were Caroline Holmqvist of Kings College
of London, Daniel Klingele of the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs,
PACE member Rolf Uesseler, and Industry representative Lt. Col.
Tim Spicer, CEO of Aegis Defence Services.
>> Report
and Summary
on Recommendations for Regulating PMSCs presented to the Council.
Privatisation of Security: Issues of responsibility
and democratic control
Clingendael, 23 May 2008
The inherent nature and dynamics of the private
security sector present strong challenges to
effective parliamentary oversight. Most serious of these challenges
is the lack of quality
information and transparency regarding the nature and scope of PMSC
personnel, rules and
practices.
>>Presentation
to the Conference on 'Privatisation of Security: Issues of responsibility
and democratic control'.
Presentation to the "European Parliament
Subcommittee of Security and Defence on 'Parliamentary Oversight
of Private Security"
Brussels, 5 May 2008
The privatization of private military and security
services, now occurring on a mass-scale,
seriously challenges the traditional notion of the State Monopoly
on the Use of Force. The
consequences of this we are only now beginning to grasp, with issues
such as impunity,
challenges to the rule of law and even state-wrecking coming to
the fore. While we cannot turn
back the clock, these serious challenges require equally serious
parliamentary action to rein in
the activities of private military and security companies (PMSCs),
and in so doing fulfil the
parliamentary responsibility of security oversight.
>>Presentation
to the European Parliament Subcommittee of Security and Defence
on 'Parliamentary Oversight of Private Security'.
The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as
a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the
right of peoples to self-determination
Montreux, 14-15 April 2008
The issue of armed non state actors for hire has
been a main area of focus for DCAF for several
years. The downsizing of regular armed forces in response to the
end of the Cold War, and the
emergence of many new smaller and hotter conflicts during the 1990's,
increased the demand for
professional military manpower and expertise. These gaps have increasingly
been filled through
'alternative service delivery', which is a euphemism for the services
provided by private security,
private military and mercenaries.
>>Transcript
of a speech presented to the Working Group by Anne-Marie Buzatu,
representing DCAF.
