A/HRC/30/34 51. Costa Rica, El Salvador and Guatemala require a psychological and a physical exam. El Salvador and Nicaragua require the person to be of sound mental and physical health. 52. Cuban regulations do not spell out the requirements with which operational personnel must comply. The requirements are regulated by the Ministries of the Interior, Labour and Social Security. 53. In general, there are no requirements linked to human rights in the regulations of these countries, except in Guatemala, where candidates who have served in the army, the national civilian police, the government intelligence services or another private security company must prove that if they were dismissed it was not because they committed a crime or a human rights violation. 54. Most regulations require passing courses provided by an institution recognized by law. However, the laws and the regulations do not indicate what should be included in the curriculum or its duration, except in a few cases, where such information is mentioned in general terms. There are no established standards or supervision concerning the quality of the training, although there are some requirements for the use of firearms. 55. Nicaragua prohibits the use of firearms considered to be combat weapons. Panama requires training on the administration and use of firearms and at least two shooting range practices per year.31 Costa Rica requires private security personnel to pass a course given by the national police academy. 56. Most countries do not mention curricula relating to human rights, except El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. Mexican regulations require a service provider to offer courses to its personnel that follow an authorized model with content on human rights at least once a year. Salvadoran legislation gives certain details about the contents and mentions courses covering procedures for private agents on human rights. Guatemala requires theoretical and practical training on human rights in accordance with international standards and on the use of force and firearms.32 57. The weakness in the requirements regarding training content and its duration constitute a risk for the respect and protection of human rights, especially when only a relatively low level of education is required for personnel. It is essential to have minimum standards in both respects, which ensure that personnel acquire basic knowledge and internalize human rights standards as the ethical and legal framework for private security activities. They must act responsibly in situations involving possible legitimate use of force, especially since all regulations permit the use of weapons. Permitted and prohibited activities 58. Permitted activities include the guarding and protection of property, persons and public events, the provision of body guard services, the provision of secure transportation services, the manufacture and marketing of security systems and the provision of securityrelated advice. All countries but Nicaragua mention private investigations. Mexican federal law covers security services for obtaining information, including background reports, as well as the installation and sale of armour systems. 59. Private companies are limited to operating only in the places or buildings for which they have been contracted. In exceptional cases, for example in Nicaragua, private security personnel are permitted to work in public places. To avoid confusion, uniforms, credentials, 31 32 Executive Order No. 22/1992, art. 3. Act No. 52/2010, art. 51 (c). 11