New ISO standard for private security services under development

Private security contractors go into some of the most dangerous situations in the world to protect civilians. Photo: Aegis
Private security contractors go into some of the most dangerous situations in the world to protect civilians. Photo: Aegis

The May-June issue of ISOfocus, the magazine of the International Organization for Standardization, features an article, Policing Private Security, which highlights one of ISO’s current standard setting efforts to develop a management system standard for provision of private security services. An international management system standard will help security providers manage the risks associated with their operations, and ultimately contribute to the respect for human rights.

The article was written shortly after the first meeting, held in Montreux, Switzerland, of the international Project Committee tasked with writing the standard under the leadership of Marc Siegel. Siegel previously led the effort that resulted in the US national standard ANSI/ASIS PSC.1 Management System for Quality of Private Security Company Operations. The new ISO standard will build on PSC.1, as well as two other international standards: the Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers. Human Analytics’ Senior Managing Director, Dr. Rebecca DeWinter-Schmitt, attended the meeting in Montreux in an independent expert capacity as chair of the delegation representing the United States. In the article, she calls for greater civil society involvement in the development of the standard, noting that, “This International Standard will be the first of its kind to address the human rights risks of an industry through a management system process, and it is important to identify and bring on board human rights expertise.” The ISOFocus article can be found here.