Switzerland is taking the lead in efforts to ensure human rights are respected by an ever-increasing number of private military companies around the world. Paul Seger of the Directorate for International Law at the foreign ministry tells swissinfo about the motives and the approach the Swiss have chosen...A first workshop with government representatives from nine countries, including the United States, Britain, South Africa, France and Germany, as well as from the security industry took place at the beginning of the year...The number of military security companies has been growing worldwide and has reached an international dimension. There are more and more states that make use of such private military and security companies. Therefore we believe it is the right moment to remind states of their international obligations if they give mandates to such companies. The aim is to reach some common standards of applicable international law in using such companies.