scope:

General

Private Security Service Providers including Private Security Companies (collectively "PSCs") play an important role in protecting state and non-state clients engaged in relief, recovery, and reconstruction efforts; commercial business operations; diplomacy; and military activity. This Standard is particularly applicable for any type of PSC operating in circumstances of weakened governances where the rule of law has been undermined due to human or naturally caused events. In unstable and dangerous environments where security and military operations are on-going, PSCs are engaged to provide enhanced security services in support of humanitarian, diplomatic, and military efforts, and to protect commercial activities including rebuilding of infrastructure. The PSC, in close coordination with legitimate clients and state actors, must adopt and implement the standards necessary to ensure that human rights and fundamental freedoms are adhered to in order to safeguard lives and property, and untoward, illegal, and excessive acts are prevented; while working under high risk conditions with the utilization of tactics, techniques, procedures, and equipment - including weapons. The purpose of this Standard is to improve and demonstrate consistent and predictable quality of services provided by PSCs while maintaining the safety and security of their operations and clients within a framework that aims to ensure respect for human rights, national and international laws, and fundamental freedoms.

This Standard builds on the principles found in international human rights law and international humanitarian law (IHL). It provides auditable criteria and guidance that support the objectives of the Montreux Document on Pertinent International Legal Obligations and Good Practices for States related to Operations of Private Military and Security Companies during Armed Conflict of 17 September 2008 and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) of 9 November 2010. This Standard provides a means for PSCs, and their clients, to implement the recommendations of the Montreux Document and to provide demonstrable commitment, conformance, and accountability to respect the principles outlined in the ICoC.

Given that PSCs have become important elements for supporting peace and stability efforts in regions where the capacity of societal institutions have become overwhelmed by human and natural caused disruptive events, their operations face a certain amount of risk. The challenge is to determine how to cost-effectively manage risk while meeting the organization's strategic and operational objectives within a framework that protects the safety, security, and human rights of internal and external stakeholders, including clients and affected communities. PSCs need to conduct their business and provide services in a manner that respects human rights and laws. Therefore, they - and their clients - have an obligation to carry out due diligence to prevent incidents, mitigate, and remedy the consequences of incidents, report them when they occur, and take corrective and preventive actions to avoid a reoccurrence.

Protecting both tangible and intangible assets is a critical task for the viability, profitability, and sustainability of any type of organization (public, private, or not-for-profit). This transcends the protection of just physical, human, and information assets but includes protecting the image and reputation of companies and their clients. Protecting assets requires a combination of strategic thinking, problem solving, process management, and the ability to implement programs and initiatives to correspond with the context of the organization's operations and their risks.

Core to the success of implementing this Standard is embedding the values of the Montreux Document and ICoC into the culture and range of activities of the organization. Integrating these principles into management requires a long-term commitment to cultural change by top management, including leadership, time, attention, and resources - both monetary and physical. By using this Standard, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to integration of the principles of the Montreux Document and ICoC into their management system and their day-to-day operations. The Standard is designed to be integrated with other management systems within an organization (e.g., quality, safety, organizational resilience, environmental, information security, and risk standards). One suitably designed management system can thus fulfil the requirements of all these standards.