Women in Private Security: Recognising the Value of Women’s Participation in the Industry

The private security sector is undergoing a significant transformation as it begins to recognise the value of women’s participation. Although international frameworks such as the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 have, since 2000, highlighted the importance of women’s engagement in peace and security, the private security industry remains largely overlooked in this agenda. This omission has resulted in limited research, weak accountability mechanisms and a lack of pressure to improve conditions for women in the sector.

ICoCA’s policy brief seeks to address this gap from a practical perspective. It draws on recent research on working conditions in the sector conducted by ICoCA, including surveys, field observations and consultations with Member companies, as well as fifteen semi-structured interviews with industry experts across Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America. Our findings reveal that discrimination and workplace stratification—often shaped by gender, race and nationality—are widespread and have a direct impact on recruitment, working conditions and overall performance in the sector.

Among these issues, the role of women remains one of the least documented. This paper expands on ICoCA’s previous research into working conditions and explores the broader factors shaping women’s experiences in private security. It aims to provide practical insights into the current state of women’s inclusion in the industry and to identify realistic pathways towards meaningful and lasting change. As the first global report on the participation of women in the private security industry, it underscores the potential of their growing role to drive a transformation towards a more preventive and community-acceptable model of security.

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