Montreux Document - a process aimed at governments

The Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies is an inter-state document.  It describes how international law, in particular international humanitarian law and human rights law, applies to private military and security companies (PMSCs) when these are present in armed conflict.  It is the result of a joint initiative launched by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross in 2006. After various rounds of discussions, 17 states jointly finalised the document at a meeting in Montreux, Switzerland, on 17 September 2008.  Civil society and industry were consulted during the drafting. Since its release, another 35 states have expressed their support for the document (as of June 2015).  This brings the total to 52 countries.  The European Union has also joined the document.  

The Montreux Document expresses the view of participant states that there is no legal vacuum for the activities of PMSCs in areas of armed conflict.  The document is not legally binding in itself, but refers to existing international law with the intention to clarify obligations and to promote respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law.

The document is divided into two parts: pertinent international legal obligations relating to PMSCs and good practices relating to PMSCs.  In the first part, obligations of different actors under international humanitarian law and human rights law are outlined. These actors include contracting states, territorial states, home states, PMSCs and their personnel and superiors.  Furthermore, state responsibility for private conduct under international customary law is addressed.

In the second part, some 70 "best practices" are outlined.  These are formulated as recommendations directed at states and are largely based on state regulations in relation to PMSCs and/or armed forces.  The scope of the best practices ranges from contracting and authorisation of PMSCs to ensuring prosecution of PMSC personnel in case of serious breaches of law.

In December 2014 the Montreux Document Forum was established as a platform for participants to share & discuss good practices and challenges regarding the regulation of PMSCs. 

A complementary Global Code of Conduct for the security industry has been developed.  For further information on this initiative click here.

A selection of key reports on the Montreux Document is accessible below.

For further reports & articles, see the Resource Centre’s general section on the Montreux Document under the title "Swiss government & ICRC initiative on private military & security companies".

Official website & document

Montreux initiative

• Montreux Document

[Español] Documento de Montreux

[Français] Initiative de Montreux

• Document de Montreux
  

Arabic, Chinese, Russian

Reports and commentaries

• Le Document de Montreux rappelle la responsabilité des états en cas de violation des droits de l’homme par les employés des entreprises militaires et de sécurité privées, ATS (Agence Télégraphique Suisse), 11 décembre 2013

• Montreux+5 conference discusses regulation of security companies to comply with intl. humanitarian & human rights law, Intl. Committee of the Red Cross, 10 Dec 2013

• Report from regional workshop for Latin America on Montreux document on private military & security companies (12-13 May 2011), Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), 2011 

• Regional workshop on the Montreux Document on private military & security companies to raise awareness in Latin America about the Document.  Hosted by the Swiss and Chilean governments, and supported by DCAF and the Global Consortium for Security Transformation (GCST) - 12-13 May 2011, Santiago, Chile

• Regulating Private Military and Security Companies: The Content, Negotiation, Weaknesses and Promise of the Montreux Document
  James Cockayne, 2008

• Amnesty International Public Statement on the Montreux Document in Pertinent International Obligations and Good Practices for States related to the Operations of Private Military and Security Companies during Armed Conflict
  Amnesty International USA, 14 Oct 2008

• Busting the Unaccountability Myth
  David Isenberg, 10 Oct 2008

• Governments acknowledge duty to control private military and security companies
  International Committee of the Red Cross, 19 Sep 2008

• IPOA Welcomes Montreux Agreement on Private Security Companies
  International Peace Operations Association, 17 Sep 2008

• States reach agreement on controlling private security companies
  Xinhua, 18 Sep 2008

[Español]

• Informe del seminario regional para América Latina sobre el Documento de Montreux acerca de las empresas militares y de seguridad privadas (12-13 mayo 2011)
  Centro para el Control Democrático de las Fuerzas Armadas de Ginebra (DCAF), 2011

• Los Gobiernos reconocen la obligación de controlar a las empresas militares y de seguridad privadas
  Comité Internacional de la Cruz Roja, 19 septiembre 2008

[Français]

• Les gouvernements reconnaissent l’obligation qu’ils ont de contrôler les compagnies militaires et de sécurité privées
  Comité International de la Croix-Rouge, 23 septembre 2008

• Suisse – CICR : Les Entreprises militaires privées en activité dans les zones de conflit du monde, dorénavant soumises à un contrôle international
  Xinhua, Casafree.com, 18 septembre 2008