News and Events

AEGIS SUPPORTS INITIATIVE TO DEVELOP FIRST-EVER GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE SECURITY INDUSTRY

March  2010 – AEGIS LLC* recently participated in a two-day forum hosted by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) to discuss a draft global code of conduct for Private Security Companies (PSCs). This would be the first-ever Global Code of Conduct for the PSC industry.  Kristi Clemens, the president of AEGIS LLC, participated in the USIP forum and was the industry representative on a panel discussion. 

AEGIS supports the goal to establish an endorsed Global Code of Conduct and/or global standards for the private security (PSC) industry.  AEGIS believes that efforts such as this will lead to welcomed regulation and more consistent oversight and accountability for the industry as it carries out missions on behalf of the United States, allied governments and non-governmental organizations.

The USIP forum was the first in a series of sector-specific workshops on this subject.  It brought together leading humanitarian, non-governmental, and public sector groups to discuss the regulation and oversight of Private Security Companies.  This series of workshops is part of the overall effort of the Swiss Initiative**.

AEGIS plans to play an active role in the dialogue amongst industry, government and non- governmental organizations (NGOs) as all parties look for mechanisms to provide more consistent oversight, accountability and regulation.  With rapidly changing missions and complex operating environments, AEGIS believes it essential that lessons learned from the field by PSC’s and their partners be fully incorporated into widely accepted regulation to improve accountability, transparency and oversight. 

AEGIS has been, and remains, a key driver of efforts in the United States and United Kingdom to provide greater legitimacy and accountability for the industry, and was one of the founders of the British Association of Private Security Companies.  AEGIS intends to continue working with the Swiss Initiative to secure approval of the Global Code of Conduct and/or global standards by the industry, governments, customers and non-governmental organizations.

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*Aegis LLC is the U.S. subsidiary of the Aegis Group, a privately-owned security and risk management company.  Aegis provides government and commercial clients with a full spectrum of intelligence-led security solutions to meet the dynamic requirements of today’s international operating environment.

** Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross launched the Swiss Initiative jointly in early 2006.  The Montreux Document was an initial result of the Initiative and is now endorsed by more than 36 countries (United States included).  AEGIS welcomes and supports the clarity the Montreux Document brings to the legal situation of PSCs.

The Montreux Document is the first international document to describe international law as it applies to the activities of PSCs whenever they are present in the context of an armed conflict. It is designed to promote the respect for International Humanitarian Law and human rights by States and PSCs.  (The Document is not itself a legally binding document.)