Agreement has been reached on the Charter for the Oversight Mechanism of the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC). A large group of representatives from signatory companies, civil society and governments were involved in the successful negotiations, which were held in Montreux from 19 and 22 February 2013. The purpose of this independent governance and oversight mechanism, which will be based in Geneva, is to ensure the effective implementation of the ICoC through the certification and monitoring of private security providers, as well as through the adoption of a third-party complaint process. The Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits a number of activities, including the use of force (except in self-defence), torture, discrimination and human trafficking.