The Association completed its first outreach mission in the Latin American Region from 10 to 14 December 2018. During this week the ICoCA introduced the International Code of Conduct for private security service providers to a diverse range of stakeholders in Peru. With around 800 private security companies registered with the regulatory authority SUCAMEC and potentially many more operating in Peru, the private security industry is an important player as employer and as security provider to the strongest export industry in Peru, the extractive industry.
The Association met with a number of civil society organisations working with extractive industries and communities to reduce conflicts in mining areas, with its Members and Observers and reached out to governments and international organisations working on small arms control. During a workshop with private security companies and other relevant stakeholders, the Association discussed the need to raise standards in the private security industry and potential solutions to current challenges. The Association also had the opportunity to meet the Security Committee of the National Association for mining, petrol and energy (Sociedad Nacional de Minería, Petróleo y Energía) and strengthen its link with the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights initiative who have a well-established Working Group in Peru.
The Association would like to express its appreciation to its civil society organisation Member Socios Perú for its invaluable support during the mission and looks forward to continue with its ongoing efforts to raise security standards and compliance with the International Code of Conduct in the Latin American Region.