A forum for participants of the Montreux Document on pertinent international legal obligations and good practices for states related to operations of private military and security companies during armed conflict.
Supporting national implementation Montreux Document good practices in the regulation of private military and security companies is a key objective of the Montreux Document Forum.
The Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, in its Secretariat function, continuously supports national implementation of Montreux Document Good Practices (more about services for States here).
The Montreux Document Forum offers operational advisory support guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation, and gender equality. In addition, the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat works together directly with States and International Organisations to improve governance of the private military and security industry. The contextualised support packages can take the form of knowledge gathering, policy advice, or policy implementation.
Implementation projects of the Montreux Document Forum are based on in-depth policy research and comprehensive guidance tools. Policy research of the past decade thematised the main challenges in the regulation of private military and security companies, such as the determination of services, extraterritorial applicability of legislation, as well as licensing and authorisation systems (more here).
The two MDF guidance tools, the legislative guidance tool and the contract guidance tool, were designed to constitute practical guidance for States to address the challenges outlined.
