American University Washington College of Law’s Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law presents:
WEBINAR/WEBCAST SERIES
Montreux Fives Years On: Assessing the current status of the development and implementation of international standards for the private military and security industry
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the finalization 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. The result of a multi-stakeholder initiative launched in 2006 by the Swiss government’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Montreux Document was signed by 17 states in September 2008 and is currently supported by 43 states and the European Union. The Document details international law as it applies to the activities of private military and security companies in the context of armed conflict, and also contains a set of good practices designed to assist states in implementing their obligations under international law through various national measures. This webinar and webcast series features stakeholders from business, government, and civil society, who have been working towards improving regulation, oversight, and accountability for the private military and security industry, to examine the implementation of the best practices outlined in Montreux Document as well as other relevant international initiatives.
Webinars
Recorded Wednesday, April 24, 2013
The Value of International Regulation from a Company and Client Perspective
Moderator: Dr. Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Co-Director, Initiative for Human Rights in Business, Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
Security Industry – Mark DeWitt, Deputy General Counsel and Vice President, Triple Canopy
Extractives Industry – Andrew Orsmond, Associate, Foley Hoag, LLP
Non-Governmental Organizations – Amaury Cooper, Deputy Director of Risk Management & Global Security, International Relief and Development
United Nations – Stuart Groves, UN Security Consultant
Recorded Friday, April 26, 2013
Implementation of Montreux Commitments: Comparative Perspectives
Moderator: Dr. Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Co-Director, Initiative for Human Rights in Business, Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
The history, origins and purpose of the Montreux Document: Benjamin Buckland, Project Officer for Public Private Partnerships, DCAF
USA – Christopher Mayer, Director, Armed Contingency Contractor Policy and Programs at Department of Defense
Australia – David Dutton, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
South Africa – Dr. Sabelo Gumedze, Head of Research and Development, Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, South Africa
Switzerland – Dr. Felix Schwendimann, Deputy Head of Section, Section for International Humanitarian Law, Directorate of International Law, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Recorded Monday, April 29, 2013
International Initiatives Addressing Private Security Provision
Moderator: Dr. Heather Elms, Associate Professor, American University, Kogod School of Business
United Nations Draft Convention on Private Military and Security Companies – Faiza Patel, UN Working Group on the Use of Mercenaries
International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers and other voluntary regulation – Meg Roggensack, Senior Advisor for Business and Human Rights, Human Rights First
Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights – J.J. Messner, Senior Associate, Fund for Peace
Click here to listen to the audio-only recording.
Recorded Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Human Rights and Humanitarian Law Challenges Faced by the Larger Private Military and Security Industry
Moderator: Dr. Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Co-Director, Initiative for Human Rights in Business, Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
Montreux’s International Legal Standards and Best Practices During Armed Conflict and Beyond – Andrew Carswell, Delegate to the Canadian and U.S. Armed Forces, ICRC
The Role of the Private Sector in Detention and other Military Services – Katherine Gallagher, Senior Staff Attorney, Center for Constitutional Rights (Invited)
The Relevance of the Montreux Document to the Maritime Security Industry - Jon Huggins, Director, Oceans Beyond Piracy, One Earth Foundation
Recorded Thursday, May 25, 2013
A talk with Doug Brooks, President Emeritus of the International Stability Operations Association
Moderator:
Dr. Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, Co-Director, Initiative for Human Rights in Business, Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law
Click here to listen to the audio-only recording.
Biographies of the speakers can be found here.