Risk mitigation: hiring private security providers which are certified by the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA) or another industry standard

The International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA) is a multi-stakeholder initiative formed in 2013 to ensure that providers of private security services respect human rights and humanitarian law. It serves as the governance and oversight mechanism of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. Members are certified to the Code on the basis of ICoCA-recognised industry standards (see below bullet points). Additionally, ICoCA regularly publishes tools and guidance for its members to support their development of human rights-compliant policies and practices.

Members are monitored through remote tracking by ICoCA, mandatory reporting and, in some cases, by visits. Civil society members of ICoCA may also notify the association about irregularities in their countries of origin. Additionally, complaints can be submitted to ICoCA alleging breaches of the Code by their members. The Code also requires private security providers to have a company grievance mechanism, and ICoCA monitors the implementation of this requirement via company self-assessments and field visits.

Contracting private security providers that are ICoCA members does not absolve the company of its due diligence responsibilities towards their private security providers, but at least assures a certain level of awareness and scrutiny in regard to private security providers’ human rights commitments.

Certification is recognized by industry standards such as:

• ANSI-ASIS PSC.1-2012: Management standard for quality of private security company operations, developed by the American National Standards Institute and ASIS International.  
• ISO 18788: Management system for private security operations, developed by the International Organization for Standardization.
• ISO 28007: Guidelines for private maritime security companies who provide privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships, developed by the International Organization for Standardization.

Sources:

• International Code of Conduct Association
• Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations Standard (ASIS International 2017)
• ISO 18788:2015 Management System for Private Security Operations (International Organization for Standardization 2021)