Driving Accountability in Latin America’s Private Security Sector

ICoCA was in Guatemala this week for a regional conference on private security, co-organised with the Organization of the American States (OAS), and focused on strengthening oversight and promoting responsible security practices across Latin America.

A Unified Approach to Private Security Regulation

The conference was part of ICoCA’s growing collaboration with the OAS, following a key resolution passed in July 2024. The resolution reflects the increasing attention to the regulation of private security services in the region.

High-level discussions, led by Viceminister Mayda De León, highlighted critical steps toward more robust oversight and accountability in the private security sector.

One of the highlights of the conference was the panel on “Physical Security, Arsenal Management, and Inventory Control”, moderated by Janaina Camelo Homerin (OAS), featuring voices such as Ana Yancy Espinoza from the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress. These discussions were instrumental in shaping the future of responsible security practices, emphasising the importance of transparency, regulation and effective control in the private security industry.

Forging Strategic Alliances

In addition to the conference sessions, ICoCA held productive discussions with Guatemala’s Minister of Interior in the lead-up to the event, laying the foundation for future collaboration and engagement. Representatives from Honduras, Pan American Silver Corp., and ICoCA Certified Member Centurion Security, S.A. also participated in these conversations, reinforcing the collective commitment to responsible security standards and the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement.

ICoCA’s participation in this conference underscores our continued efforts to strengthen oversight and ensure that private security operations in Latin America align with international standards of accountability, transparency, and human rights protection. By fostering open dialogue with key stakeholders, including government representatives and private sector leaders, we remain dedicated to advancing responsible security practices and promoting sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the private security sector.