The Montreux Document is Supported by 61 States and 4 International Organisations.

The Montreux Document is supported by 61 States and 4 International Organisations.

The Montreux Document guides the regulation of activities of PMSCs in armed conflicts, but also constitutes a blueprint for other comparable situations.

States, private actors, and other organisations increasingly contract private military and security companies (PMSCs), for a various range of activities going from the protection of persons and properties to services involving surveillance and combat. To keep up with these developments, the Montreux Document was developed to improve the existing regulatory frameworks and mitigate risks of violations of international law and human rights.

The Montreux Document recalls the pertinent legal obligations of States to regulate PMSCs and contains a description of good practices in various aspects of accountability and contracting of PMSCs. It guides the regulation of activities of PMSCs in armed conflicts, but also constitutes a blueprint for other comparable situations.

The Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) is an international foundation whose mission is to assist the international community in pursuing good governance and reform of the security sector.

The Centre provides in‐country advisory support and practical assistance programmes, develops and promotes norms and standards, conducts tailored policy research, and identifies good practices and recommendations to promote democratic security sector governance.

DCAF’s Business and Security Division works with business, governments and communities to improve security, sustainable development and respect for human rights. We play a leading role globally in improving oversight and accountability of the private security industry. We engage actively to address security and human rights challenges related to the extractives sector when operating in complex environments. More broadly, DCAF supports initiatives at local, national and international levels that promote responsible business conduct. 

Under an agreement with the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and the International Committee of the Red Cross, DCAF also serves as the Secretariat of the Montreux Document Forum, further contributing to international efforts on regulating private military and security companies. 

The organisation is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, gender sensitivity and local ownership as the basis for supporting legitimate, sustainable reform processes. DCAF is based in Geneva with permanent offices in Beirut, Brussels, Ljubljana, Ramallah and Tunis. The Centre has over 140 staff from more than 30 countries.

Contact info:

Geneva Centre Security Sector Governance (DCAF)
P.O.Box 1360
CH-1211 Geneva 1
Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0) 22 730 9400
Fax: +41 (0) 22 730 9405

Email: 

The Mandate of the Maritime Working Group is to look into the relevance of the Montreux Document to maritime security.

The Mandate of the Maritime Working Group is to look into the relevance of the Montreux Document to maritime security (see the MDF Working Practices). In this capacity, the Working Group engages with relevant international organizations and initiatives on maritime security and discusses ways to assist States in implementing the MD. The Group is currently chaired by Portugal.

To fulfil its mandate, the Working Group has developed a publication on the maritime application of the Montreux Document, the Reference Document: Elements for a Maritime Interpretation of the Montreux Document. The document is built on extensive consultations with States, International Organisations, the shipping industry, private security companies, civil society and other experts.

Previous Meetings of the Maritime Working Group

12 January 2022

The 8 th exchange of the Working Group on the use of private military and security companies in maritime security (Maritime Working Group) was attended by Montreux Document participants (MD participants), the co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, and the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat, DCAF. The meeting was conducted in an online format, which facilitated the participation of several State representatives from capital. The meeting allowed for an update on the dissemination of the Reference Document – Elements for a maritime interpretation of the Montreux Document (Reference Document).

Download the Chair's summary

10 November 2020

On November the 10^th 2020, the Working Group on the use of private military and security companies in maritime security (Maritime Working Group) organised the 7th exchange. The meeting was attended by Montreux Document Participants, the co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, and the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat, DCAF. The meeting was conducted in an online format, which facilitated the participation of several State representatives from capital. The meeting allowed for a presentation of and discussion on the fourth draft of the Reference Document – Elements for a maritime interpretation of the Montreux Document.

Chair's summary 

24 June 2020

On 24 June 2020, the Montreux Document Forum organized the 12th exchange of the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA Working Group), and the 6th meeting of the Working Group on the use of private military and security companies in maritime security (Maritime Working Group). The meetings constituted the first Montreux Document Forum Working Group meeting in an online format, allowing representatives of Montreux Document Participants to successfully join the meeting from the capital. Both meetings were as well attended by the co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland, and the ICRC, the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat, DCAF.

The meeting was also attended by Montreux Document Participants, the co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, and the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat, DCAF. The meeting allowed for a presentation of-and discussion on the third draft of the Reference Document – Elements for a maritime interpretation of the Montreux Document.

The deadline to submit comments to the third draft will be extended until the 31st of August 2020.

Download the Chair’s Summary of the meeting

Download the presentation delivered by Mateus Kowalski, Director of the International Law Department, Department of Legal Affairs – Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal.

2 September 2019 (5th Meeting)

On 2 September 2019, Montreux Document Participants, the Co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, the MDF Secretariat, DCAF, as well as invited maritime experts gathered in Geneva to attend the 5th Meeting of the Maritime Working Group. The meeting allowed for a presentation of the second draft of the Reference Document – Elements for a maritime interpretation of the Montreux Document, followed by a discussion among Montreux Document participants.

Download Chair's summary

Download Agenda

12 June 2019 (4th Meeting)

The fourth exchange of the Maritime Working Group was attended by Montreux Document Participants, the Co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, as well as the MDF Secretariat, DCAF. The meeting allowed for Montreux Document Participants to discuss the first draft of the Reference Document – Elements for a maritime interpretation of the Montreux Document and to learn from expert presentations situating the context of the document. The opening remarks were held by Mateus Kowalski, representing Portugal as the current Chair of the Working Group. The Chair extended a special welcome to the newest participant to the Montreux Document, Montenegro, as well as the expert speakers, Bruno Demeyere, Legal Advisor at ICRC and Anaïs Laigle, Project Officer at ICoCA.

Download Chair's Summary

Download Agenda

29 November 2018 (3rd Meeting)

The third exchange of the Maritime Working Group was attended by Montreux Document Participants, the Co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum – Switzerland and the ICRC, the Secretariat and a Representor of the International Code of Conduct Association. The meeting allowed a first exchange on elements of a Reference Document on the interpretation of the Montreux Document from a Maritime Perspective, followed by a presentation on the International Code of Conduct Association from a maritime perspective. Last, participants were debriefed on a side-event on the Montreux Document held in New York.

Download Chair's Summary

Download Agenda

The second exchange of the Maritime Working Group was attended by 13 Montreux Document Participants as well as the

6 June 2018 (2^nd Meeting)

Secretariat and two guest speakers: Anna Petrig, Professor of Law at the University of Basel and Chris Trelawny, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Maritime Security and Facilitation (Sub-Division for Maritime Security and Facilitation, Maritime Safety Division) at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The focus of the meeting was laid on action points for 2018 and 2019.

Download the Chair's Summary

Download the Agenda

Download the Briefing Note

Download the Plan of Action

30 January 2018 (1^st  Meeting)

The first meeting of the Working Group on the use of private military and security companies in maritime security (Maritime Working Group) was held on 30 January 2018. The meeting was an opportunity for Montreux Document participants to discuss the strategic priorities and proposed outputs of Chairmanship. Download the Chair's Summary here.

The mandate of the ICoCA Working Group is to provide advice to the International Code of Conduct Association on national and international policy and regulatory matters (Art. 12 of the Working Practices of the MDF).

The ICoCA Working Group further constitutes a venue for Montreux Document Participants to engage with the Secretariat of ICoCA and to receive updates on the activities of the Association. The United States of America currently chairs the Working Group.

Previous Meetings of the ICoCA Working Group

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6 December 2023

On the 6th of December 2023, the 15th exchange of the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA Working Group) was held aside of the ICoCA General Assembly. The discussion was attended by Montreux Document Participants (MDF participants), the co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat, DCAF, as well as the Executive Director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA).

Chair's summary

7 September 2021

The 14th exchange of the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA Working Group) was attended by Montreux Document Participants, the Co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat, DCAF, as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director of ICoCA, and a guest speaker from the OECD. The meeting was conducted in an online format, which facilitated the participation of several State representatives from capital.

Chair's summary

18 November 2020 (13th Meeting)

The 18^th of November 2020 took place the 13^th exchange of the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA Working Group) that was attended by Montreux Document Participants (MDF participants), the co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat, DCAF, as well as the Executive Director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA).The meeting was conducted in an online format, which facilitated the participation of several State representatives from capital.

Chair's summary

24 June 2020 (12th Meeting)

On 24 June 2020, the Montreux Document Forum organized the 12th exchange of the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA18  Working Group), and the Working Group on the use of private military and security companies in maritime security (Maritime Working Group). The meetings constituted the first Montreux Document Forum Working Group meeting in an online format, allowing representatives of Montreux Document Participants to successfully join the meeting from capital. Both meetings were as well attended by the co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat, DCAF. The Executive Director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICoCA could also join the ICoCA Working Group meeting.

The meeting allowed for updates from the Chairman of the Board of ICoCA and the Executive Director on the recent activities and the several impacts of COVID-19 on the private security industry and how the ICoCA could provide support to its members during the pandemic.

Download the Chair’s Summary of the meeting

Download the presentation held by Mr. Jamie Williamson, Executive Director of the ICoCA

2 September 2019 (11th Meeting)

On 2 September 2019, Montreux Document Participants, the Co-Chairs of the Montreux Document Forum, Switzerland and the ICRC, the MDF Secretariat, DCAF, as well as the Executive Director and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the ICoCA gathered for the eleventh exchange of the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA Working Group). The Meeting allowed for updates from the Chairman of the Board of ICoCA and the Executive Director on the recent and future activities as well as the Strategic Plan of the Association.

Download Chair's summary

Download Agenda

29 November 2018 (10th Meeting)

The tenth exchange of the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association was held in Geneva on 29 November 2018. The meeting allowed to recall the background of the establishment of the ICoCA Working Group, and to discuss the five goals as laid out in the draft ICoCA strategic plan, as well as to begin collecting ideas for the next stage of the plan: developing measureable objectives and identifying activities to achieve those objectives.

Download Chair's Summary

Download Agenda

6 June 2018 (9th Meeting)

The ninth exchange of the ICoCA Working Group was intended to serve as an opportunity to engage with the Executive Director regarding the Association’s work to produce a strategic plan for the ICoCA’s future operations. A questionnaire was circulated to Montreux Document participants in advance, giving delegations the opportunity to provide written feedback to inform the strategic plan. The Chair thanked those Montreux Document participants who provided responses to the questionnaire. The meeting of the Working Group also served to provide updates to the ICoCA’s activities.

Download the Chair's Summary.

20 April 2018 (8^th Meeting)

The meeting served as an opportunity to engage with the Executive Director of the ICoCA regarding the ICoCA's work to produce a strategic plan for the ICoCA. The Chair welcomed Montreux Document participants to provide views to the Association regarding a number of aspects of the Association's future operations. These response were submitted to the Secretariat electronically via the elaborated questionnaire or during the next meeting of the Working Group on 6 June. Download the Chair's Summary.

11 October 2017 (7^th Meeting)

During the meeting, Montreux Document participants discussed and provided feedback to the ICoCA on the proposed amendments to the ICoCA Articles of Association (Transitional Membership and Certification and to the Certification Procedure (ICoCA Recognition Process for Certification Bodies). Download the Chair's Summary here.

6 July 2017 (6^th Meeting)

Participants recalled the proposal for the Working Group's interaction with the ICoCA (the guidelines) and discussed timing of meetings, potential for experts' participation in meetings, and the operational context of PMSCs under the Montreux Document. States and international organisations participating in the meeting also heard a presentation on updates regarding the ICoCA from the Chairman of the Board of Directors. Download the Chair's Summary here.

Chairmanship: Sweden (2015-2016)

7 September 2016 (5^th Meeting)

During the meeting, the Chair recalled the previous discussion of 17 June 2016 whereby the Working Group discussed that in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Working Practices of the MDF, the ICoCA Working Group could provide advice and feedback on the Draft Procedures on Articles 12 and 13 of the ICoCA Articles of Association in the event that the procedures interacted with national law or policy. Following a briefing from the Executive Director of the ICoCA, Montreux Document participants has the opportunity to discuss the draft procedures related to 'Reporting, Monitoring, and Assessing Performance and Compliance' and 'Receiving and Processing Complaints.' Download the Chair's Summary for more information.

17 June 2016 (4^th Meeting)

Montreux Document Participants received updates related to the ICoCA. The discussion focused on Articles 12 (Reporting, monitoring and assessing performance and compliance) and Article 13 (Receiving and Processing Complaints) of the ICoCA Articles of Association. Additionally, a representative of the Transport Agency of Sweden was invited to share information on the Swedish legislation regarding the authorisation of the use of armed security personnel on board Swedish-flagged ships.Download the Chair's Summary for an overview of the presentation.

28 January 2016 (3^rd Meeting)

States and international organisations participating in the meeting received a presentation from the Executive Director of the ICoCA regarding updates on current activities within the Association, in particular on its work for the elaboration of certification, monitoring, reporting and complaints procedures. Participants also shared their experiences on the status of national regulatory procedures and processes for the regulation of private military and security companies.During this meeting, there was also discussion among attending representatives that the Working Group could, if it so wished, engage in further dialogue with the Association between Working Group meetings. On this basis, questions regarding the current activities in the Association could be posed more regularly by Montreux Document participants. It was proposed that participants who wish to put forward written questions to the Association on these issues should send those questions to the Chair of the Working Group. Download the Chairs’ Summary for more information.

2 June 2015 (2^nd Meeting)

Participants of the meeting discussed and finalised the Chair’s written proposal for the Working Group’s interaction with the ICoCA (the guidelines). For further dialogue among participants, one delegation proposed additional discussion questions for circulation amongst the Working Group. The Chair of the Working Group on the ICoCA welcomes further feedback from Montreux Document participants on these questions. More details of the meeting can be found in the Chair’s summary of the second meeting.

16 December 2014 (1^st Meeting)

The first meeting was held in conjunction with the MDF Constitutional Meeting. For details of the proceedings, download the Chair’s Summary of the first meeting.

Until 2020, 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 19^th 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.

Chair's summary

Revised working practices

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.

Agenda

Chair's Summary

Keynote speech: Contemporary Use of PMSCs in Armed Conflicts – Market for Force, Trends, and Conflict Dynamics

Dr. Ulrich Petersohn, Senior Lecturer and Associate Professor in International Politics, University of Liverpool, Department of Politics

Replacing public security by private security? The impact and sustainability of the use of PMSCs in the maritime sector

Jon Huggins, Consultant for international agencies, governments, and industry

The interaction between shipmaster, crew and private security guards on board: A practical point of view

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.

Chairs' Summary

Agenda for the Third Plenary Meeting

Background Document

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 highlights the responsibilities of three principal types of states: Contracting states, Territorial states, and Home states.

ABOUT THE DOCUMENT

The Montreux Document reaffirms States' existing obligations under international law, in particular international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law, regarding the activities of private military and security companies (PMSCs) in situations of armed conflict. 

It also lists good practices to assist States in taking national measures to implement these obligations. The Montreux Document, a joint initiative of Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 2006, clarifies the misconception that PMSCs operate in a legal vacuum by recalling and compiling the relevant international obligations. It is a practical and realistic contribution to promoting respect for international humanitarian and human rights law and provides governments with a model for effectively regulating PMSCs. Finalised in 2008, the Montreux Document aims to provide guidance on the basis of existing international law and is not a legally binding treaty. Regardless of their support for the initiative, states are already subject to the international legal obligations contained in the Montreux Document. Although the Document was developed with the fact that PMSCs operate in situations of armed conflict in mind, it can also be instructive for post-conflict and other comparable situations. Moreover, most of its good practices are ideally implemented in peacetime.

CONTENT

The Montreux Document outlines the responsibilities of three main types of states: Contracting States (countries that engage PMSCs), Territorial States (countries on whose territory PMSCs operate) and Home States (countries where PMSCs are headquartered or based). The document also contains sections on all States and international organisations, PMSCs and PMSC staff. Although the document is primarily aimed at states, the good practices may be useful to other actors such as international organisations, civil society, companies contracting PMSCs and PMSCs themselves.

The first part of the paper recalls the relevant legal obligations of states towards PMSCs. These obligations are mainly drawn from existing international humanitarian and human rights agreements, as well as from customary international law.

The second part contains a description of good practices that aim to guide and assist States in regulating PMSCs. Good practices include determining which services can and cannot be contracted out to PMSCs, requiring appropriate training, establishing licensing requirements, and adopting measures to improve oversight, transparency and accountability of PMSCs.

In January 2006, Switzerland, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), organized a first exploratory meeting in Zurich.

The Montreux Document reaffirms the existing obligations of States under international law, in particular international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law, relating to the activities of private military and security companies (PMSCs).

About the Document

The Montreux Document reaffirms the existing obligations of States under international law, in particular international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law, relating to the activities of private military and security companies (PMSCs).

Resulting from a joint initiative launched by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Montreux Document was finalised in 2008. The Document seeks to provide guidance on the basis of existing international law, but is not a legally binding treaty. To become Montreux Document Participants, States and International Organisations merely need to communicate their support for the Montreux Document to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (More here).

Why support the Montreux Document?

The Montreux Document provides a blueprint for governments to effectively regulate PMSCs. It highlights the responsibilities of three principal types of states: Contracting states (countries that hire PMSCs), Territorial states (countries on whose territory PMSCs operate), and Home states (countries in which PMSCs are headquartered or based). Furthermore, the good practices may be useful for other actors such as international organisations, civil society, companies that contract PSMCs, and PMSCs themselves. While Part one of the Document recalls the pertinent legal obligations of States regarding PMSCs, Part two contains a description of good practices which aim to provide guidance and assistance to States in regulating PMSCs. The good practices include determining which services may or may not be contracted out to PMSCs, requiring appropriate training, establishing terms for granting licenses, and adopting measures to improve supervision, transparency and accountability of PMSCs.

Although the Document was developed with the view that PMSCs operate in situations of armed conflict, it may also be instructive for post-conflict situations and for other, comparable situations. Furthermore, most of its good practices are ideally put in place during peacetime.

Template to express support for the Montreux Document (عَرَبِيّ, English, français, русский, español)

The goal of the Montreux Document Forum is to improve the governance of the Private Military and Security Industry.

Montreux Document Forum thus seeks to support national implementation of the Montreux Document, as well as to bring more states and international organisations to actively support it. The MDF further aims to strengthen dialogue on lessons learned, good practices and challenges related to the regulation of PMSCs.

The Montreux Document Forum previously gathered all Montreux Document participants in an annual plenary meeting. After 2020, and to ensure better implementation of the norms and good practices entailed in the Montreux Document, it was agreed to move away from plenary meetings in favor of a more focused technical assistance to States in implementing the Document at the national level.

In 2024, the co-chairs and the MDF Secretariat decided to develop a Community of Practice (network of regulatory authorities) and a new online platform to address national regulatory challenges in monitoring PMSCs and to provide a space for discussions on technical matters. The online platform has now been established and was presented in September 2024.

The Forum is co-chaired by Switzerland and the ICRC, who are supported by DCAF acting as the Montreux Document Forum Secretariat and the Group of Friend of the Chair in the performance of their tasks. In-depth thematic discussions are held in two working groups, the Working Group on the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA) and the Working Group on the use of private military and security companies in maritime security.