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.
Until 2021, the Montreux Document Forum held annual plenary meetings, bringing together all Montreux Document participants. Other states, international organizations and other stakeholders could also be invited by the MDF as observers.
The objective of the plenary meetings was to provide a venue for consultation among Montreux Document participants and update participants on activities of the Working Group as well as developments of the PMSC industry. However, to ensure better implementation of the standards contained in the Montreux Document, the decision was taken in 2020 to move away from plenary meetings in favor of enhanced assistance to States in implementing the Montreux Document at national level.
PAST PLENARY MEETINGS:
2020 Plenary Meeting
The sixth Plenary meeting of the Montreux Document Forum (MDF) took place on the 19th of November 2020 and was organised online for the first time, allowing representatives to join from capital. The meeting was chaired by Switzerland (represented by Ambassador Nathalie Marti, Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Law at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (represented by Dr. Cordula Droege, Chief Legal Officer and Head of the Legal Division) as co-chairs of the MDF. The sixth Plenary meeting of the MDF was open only to Montreux Document participants.
During the Plenary meeting, Jonathan Cuénoud, Legal Advisor on IHL at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, summarized the amendments proposed by the co-chairs to the Working Practices of the MDF, and previously circulated to all MD participants. The changes were approved during the sixth Plenary meeting by the Montreux Document participants.
2019 Plenary Meeting
On 2 September 2019, States and International Organisations gathered in Geneva, Switzerland for the fifth plenary meeting of the Montreux Document Forum (MDF). The meeting was attended by 53 delegations. Following the introduction by the co-Chairs, a keynote speech was delivered by Dr Ulrich Petersohn, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in International Politics at the University of Liverpool, on “Contemporary Use of PMSCs in Armed Conflicts – Market for Force, Trends and Conflict Dynamics”. Thereafter, a panel of two experts was convened on the challenges related to the use and regulation of PMSCs in the maritime context. The second session of the plenary focused on organizational matters among Montreux Document participants.
Dr. Ulrich Petersohn, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in International Politics, University of Liverpool, Department of Politics
Jon Huggins, Consultant for international agencies, governments, and industry
Mark Gray, Managing Director, MNG Maritime Ltd
2018 Plenary Meeting
The fourth plenary meeting of the Montreux Document Forum (MDF) took place on 6-7 June 2018 in Geneva, Switzerland. In the year of the 10th anniversary of the finalization of the Montreux Document, the plenary meeting sought to take stock of the current state of the regulation of private military and security companies (PMSC), discuss recent developments and emerging issues in the PMSC field, and provide a space for an informal exchange among Montreux Document participants on questions relating to the implementation of the Montreux Document.
Agenda for the Fourth Plenary Meeting
Chair's Summary of the Fourth Plenary
2017 Plenary Meeting
On 27-28 April 2017, States, international organisations and civil society organisations gathered in Geneva to participate in the Third Plenary Meeting of the MDF. The meeting sought to promote dialogue on perspectives, opportunities and challenges related to the regulation of PMSCs. The meeting was chaired by Switzerland (represented by Ambassador Jürg Lindenmann, Deputy Director of the Directorate of International Law at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (represented by Dr. Helen Durham, Director of International Law and Policy). The meeting was divided into 3 sessions: the first and second sessions were open to all States, international organisations and invited representatives from civil society. The third session was only open to Montreux Document participants.
Agenda for the Third Plenary Meeting
2016 Plenary Meeting
On 29 January 2016, Montreux Document participants gathered for the second plenary meeting of the MDF, which provided a space for an informal exchange on specific issues pertaining to the implementation and promotion of the Montreux Document. The meeting was attended by 27 states and two international organisations supporting the Montreux Document.
The plenary was divided into three main parts. First, Montreux Document participants received reports on relevant developments since December 2014. These reports focused on the work undertaken by the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association and on the Ethiopia Regional Conference on private military and security companies (PMSCs) held in November 2015 in Addis Ababa for African states. Secondly, the plenary was devoted to a thematic discussion on the use of PMSCs in maritime security. Finally, the plenary aimed at allowing a discussion on specific aspects pertaining to the implementation of the Montreux Document and its good practices.
Download the Chairs’ Summary for more information.
The Montreux Document Forum was launched on 16 December 2014 during a constitutional meeting attended by more than 50 states and 3 international organisations.