A/HRC/45/9/Add.1 2. International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers 23. Through a Swiss-led multi-stakeholder initiative, the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers came into being in November 2010. The Code seeks to articulate human rights responsibilities of private security companies and to set out good governance principles and standards, based on international human rights law and international humanitarian law, for the responsible provision of private security services when operating in complex environments. 24. In 2013, the International Code of Conduct Association was set up as a Swiss nonprofit association to act as an independent mechanism for governance and oversight of the Code. The Association has a tripartite Board composed of government, civil society and industry representatives. As of April 2019, seven governments, 85 private security companies, 32 civil society organizations and 33 observers participated in the Association. Only three Swiss-based companies were members of the Association. 25. The Government of Switzerland continues to play an active role in the Association and chairs its Board of Directors. The Working Group was informed that Switzerland encourages dialogue within the Association on how to engage with private clients of private military and security companies, for example in the commodities trading and sports sectors, and also supports the implementation of a complaints mechanism which would sanction violations by member companies. Furthermore, adherence to the Association is legally required for Swiss-based companies providing private security services abroad. 12 26. The Working Group recognizes the large potential of this multi-stakeholder model for higher and more cohesive standards within the industry. It further welcomes the existence of the complaints mechanism and efforts to strengthen it, while noting the challenges in fully unpacking its potential, particularly in terms of bridging institutional layers between the Association and victims of human rights abuses and offering victims access to an effective remedy in line with international human rights standards. 3. Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights 27. Another relevant initiative is the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, elaborated in 2000 as “a set of principles designed to guide companies in the extractive sector in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that encourages respect for human rights”. The Working Group’s assessment of the Voluntary Principles can be found in its 2019 report on private military and security companies operating in the extractive industry (A/HRC/42/42). During its visit to Switzerland, the Working Group focused on the role of Switzerland in relation to the Voluntary Principles, particularly in light of the country assuming the role of Chair of the Voluntary Principles in March 2019. 28. Switzerland joined the Voluntary Principles as a participating government in 2011. Through its participation, Switzerland states that it works to ensure the broadest possible participation of governments in the initiative and to create synergies between the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers, the Voluntary Principles and the Swiss National Action Plan to implement the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (see para. 32 below). 13 29. When it was first Chair of the Voluntary Principles in 2013/2014, the Government of Switzerland supported the development of a verification framework for companies, governments and non-governmental organizations to streamline implementation of the initiative. The framework requires that member companies submit annual reports assessing progress made and results achieved in implementing the initiative. The companies choose whether to make the reports public. More recently, the Government has prioritized the implementation of the Voluntary Principles on the ground through in-country working 12 13 6 See also paras. 51–53. See www.fdfa.admin.ch/eda/en/home/foreign-policy/human-rights/human-rights-policy/businesshuman-rights.html.