February 18, 2013 - As noted on a post on this site on Feb. 16th, the Initiative for Human Rights in Business assisted in drafting and was one among a number of civil society groups to sign on to a statement in response to a proposed charter for a multi-stakeholder governance and oversight mechanism to regulate implementation of a code of conduct for private security companies. The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICOC) is a set of human rights and humanitarian law standards detailing responsible service provision for the private security industry. Finalized in November 2010, currently 592 companies, to include a number of maritime security providers, from over 70 countries have signed the code. Articles of Association for a multi-stakeholder organization to oversee implementation of the ICOC were released by the Swiss government on January 30. A conference will be held in Montreux, Switzerland from February 19-22 to finalize the Articles of Association. IHRIB will be participating. Civil society signatories recognize the Association as a positive step towards increasing transparency and disclosure about the activities of the private security industry, holding security providers accountable for human rights violations, and providing one possible outlet to access remedy for victims of rights abuses. However, a number of concerns are raised about the certification, monitoring, and grievance mechanisms that need to be addressed if the Association is going to be viewed as credible and legitimate. Civil society organizations want to ensure that voluntary regulation not replace governments’ responsibilities to create national and international regulations that allow for oversight of the industry, criminal and civil accountability for rights abuses, and judicial avenues for remedy for victims of rights violations.