Global Efforts
International Code of Conduct
The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) articulates a set of standards for companies providing private security services to comply with international human rights and humanitarian law. The Code requires signatory companies to comply with these obligations regardless of the national laws and the legal situation in the countries concerned. The Code was finalized in October 2010 and first signed by private security companies in November 2010.
In addition to establishing industry standards, the ICoC aims to improve accountability of the PMSC industry by establishing an independent oversight mechanism. As a minimum, the Code states that the mechanism is to include certification, auditing, monitoring and reporting. A Steering Committee of representatives from three stakeholder groups—signatory companies, governments and civil society—met regularly through 2010-2011 to develop a proposal for this mechanism. Committee members met in plenary sessions and in smaller working groups. In January 2012, the Committee released the Draft Charter for the Oversight Mechanism of the ICoC and a period of stakeholder review and comment on the Draft Charter began.
In September 2013, the ICoC Association (ICoCA) was established during a launch conference in Geneva, Switzerland to ensure effective implementation of the ICoC and promote the responsible provision of private security services. The ICoCA is governed by a Board of Directors with equal representation from the three stakeholder pillars. Its main functions are to provide and support certification, monitoring and complaints resolution. Since its launch, six states - the United States, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Australia, and Switzerland - 13 civil society organizations, and 157 private security companies have joined the Association as of April 8, 2014. More information can be found on the ICoCA website.
ICoCA
Key Documents
Steering Committee Rules of Procedure and Meeting Minutes
Working Group Meeting Minutes
Signatory Company Documents
ICoC Signatory Company Documents
ICoC Signatory Company Data and Statistics
The Code of Conduct has a constantly expanding number of signatory companies. Data on the companies, where they are headquartered, what services they provide, and when they signed has been compiled by DCAF and represented below.
