Civil society plays a fundamental role in promoting a better understanding of private security, ensuring that violations are reported and that applicable national laws and policies address all relevant issues.

This tool provides guidance to civil society organizations (CSOs) in collecting, documenting and reporting on private security. For this, it draws on the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers.

This Code articulates important principles for private security companies based on human rights and international humanitarian law, including the prohibition of torture, human trafficking, and rules on the use of force. It serves as a useful reference to ensure good private security governance and therefore to prevent and address human rights abuses by private security companies. The Code is overseen by the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers’ Association (ICoCA) a multi-stakeholder initiative formed in 2013 that brings together governments, civil society organizations and private security companies.