This is great news and a big round of applause to all involved for all the hard work they put into this over the years. I think it is very significant that so many of the big name companies have signed on to this thing from around the world, and that there has been such wide support from outside organizations.
Below I posted the DoS statements on the signing, as well as press releases from Triple Canopy and AEGIS. Now what will really be interesting is how this will be implemented, and how it will help to get companies to do the right thing.
And like what the article below has stated, this Code of Conduct does not mean that the customer does not have to do anything anymore in terms of regulation or oversight. This just gives them a tool to work off of. So hopefully the efforts of the US government will continue down that path of creating a strong and effective contracting corps.
Especially as the DoS enters into the new phase of these wars, and they become more dependent on the services of security contractors to continue the mission. Or as the shipping companies continues to look more towards armed private security for their boats. –Matt
ISOA Applauds the Signing of a Landmark Code of Conduct
Trade Association Endorses a Voluntary Code to Address Responsible Oversight and Accountability of Private Security Companies
Washington, DC – The International Stability Operations Association (“ISOA”), a trade association that promotes high operational and ethical standards among its membership including more than twenty private security firms, today strongly endorsed the first-ever International Code of Conduct to ensure better transparency and accountability within the stability operations industry. The code was signed earlier today in Geneva, Switzerland, by more than fifty private security companies, including many ISOA Member companies. Among the speakers at the event were Swiss State Secretary Peter Maurer, Triple Canopy CEO Ingacio Balderas, G4S Director of Public Affairs Michael Clarke, Legal Advisor to the U.S. Department of State Harold Honju Koh, and Devon Chaffee of Human Rights First.In particular, this voluntary Code of Conduct highlights private security contractors’ commitment to respecting human rights and the rule of law in conflict zones, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. For example, it offers guidelines for the rules for the use of force and requires standards for recruitment, vetting, training, management of weapons, and internal control mechanisms. It also requires companies to ensure their employees “take all necessary steps to avoid the use of force” and explicitly bans mistreatment of detainees, forced labor, and sexual exploitation. “ISOA welcomes this code of conduct,” said ISOA President Doug Brooks. “Members of our organization have worked for more than two years on the Code along with other industry, government, civil society representatives to craft a comprehensive, substantive agreement that provides for accountability and oversight for private security companies working in conflict, post conflict and disaster relief operations. We are already working with our partners on the critical next step – the development of an international accountability mechanism that will ensure credibility and transparency in the process. Non-compliance with this code endangers not only our missions but also human life, and it is my strong belief that ISOA members will take this code to heart.”
Contact
Doug Brooks+1 202 464 0721dbrooks@stability-operations.org
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Private Security Companies Sign Code of Conduct
November 09, 2010
GENEVA — Major private security companies signed a code of conduct Tuesday, pledging to respect human rights and the rule of law in conflict zones such as Iraq and Afghanistan, where some have been accused of abuses against the local population and reckless behavior.
The voluntary code developed by industry and government representatives was signed by 58 companies including Britain’s G4S and U.S.-based DynCorp International and Xe Services — formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide.
“This initiative has the potential to address gaps in oversight and accountability,” said U.S. State Department legal adviser Harold Koh.
Private security companies contracted by governments and non-governmental organizations have seen a boom in business over the past decades, particularly due to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, where they have been hired to guard individuals, installations and convoys.
However, in both countries companies have faced accusations of wrongdoing. In one incident Blackwater guards faced criminal charges for a 2007 incident in which 17 Iraqi civilians were killed.
Devon Chaffee, a lawyer for the group Human Rights First, said the signing of the code was “an important first step” but that an effective monitoring mechanism still needs to be agreed.
She also urged governments not to take the code as an excuse to refrain from establishing proper laws regulating the conduct of private security companies and punishing those found guilty of abuses.
The new code requires companies to ensure their employees “take all necessary steps to avoid the use of force” and forbids mistreatment of detainees, sexual exploitation and forced labor.
Companies who fail to live up to the code may find themselves in breach of their commercial contracts and will be flagged up to potential clients.
Andrew Clapham, professor of international law at the Geneva Graduate Institute, said the code was “certainly not a fig leaf.”
“There’s a lot of money in this industry and this code is going to be vital to it,” Clapham said.
His words were echoed by Nick Buckles, the head of G4S, which is the world’s biggest private security company with has an annual revenue last year of $11 billion and 600,000 staff.
Buckles said he hoped governments would make compliance with the code a “critical factor” in deciding which companies to hire.
“We believe this, more than anything else, will help drive up standards,” he said.
Story here.
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The Code of Conduct here.
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Dear Sir / Madam
Please find attached the finalised text of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. This Code is the result of an inclusive, transparent multi-stakeholder initiative launched in June 2009 by industry associations, corporations and individual business leaders with the assistance of the Government of Switzerland and in consultation with the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as other stakeholders and relevant experts. The final goals of this initiative are to set high standards for the industry worldwide and to establish external independent mechanisms for effective governance and oversight. The Code addresses both of these objectives. Firstly, as an initial human rights statement, the Code forms the basis for measurable standards for the private security industry. Secondly, the Code articulates a clear plan for the development of independent governance and oversight mechanisms. For the implementation of these mechanisms a multi-stakeholder steering committee will be established before the end of 2011.
The Swiss Government will host the signatory ceremony of the Code on November 9, 2010 in Geneva, to which representatives of industry, governments, civil society, and other stakeholders will be invited. Companies are welcome to sign the Code while clients – whether governments, humanitarian organisations, private enterprises or international organisations – are invited to offer their support for the Code and to make
statements about how the Code might serve their current contracting needs, including whether signature of the Code by service providers might become a precondition for future contracts. Clients and civil society will continue to have critical roles in developing and implementing the Code and these roles will be reflected in the forthcoming implementation phase of the Code, which will be launched at the signatory ceremony. I kindly ask you to announce your participation to the signatory ceremony until Friday, October 22, to Mr. Nils Rosemann: nils.rosemann@eda.admin.ch.
Yours sincerely,
Directorate of Political Affairs DP
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Triple Canopy press release here.
State Department mention of the code here and here.
Aegis press release here.