IACHR
Press Release
Questionnaire to develop the report, “Citizen Security privatization: impact of private security on human rights”
September 5, 2019
Washington, D.C. - The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), with its Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (ESCER), is working on a thematic report on the impact of private security on human rights. The report, prepared with the support of the Geneva Centre of Security Sector Governance (DCAF), will address the progress and challenges of implementing private security in human rights in the Americas, as well as provide recommendations to States on the issue.
The IACHR calls on States, civil society, experts, academics or interested individuals or organizations to complete a questionnaire for these purposes. Responses will be used as input for drafting the report. The deadline to submit the questionnaire is October 30, 2019 at 23:59 p.m. (Washington, D.C. (EST)).
Through this thematic report, the IACHR seeks to identify the main challenges generated by the implementation of private security in several countries of the region. In particular, it intends to identify the key problems that exist within the legal framework and in the public policies implemented that regulate this type of security. It aims to highlight the sectors that hire private security companies and States’ responsibility through their omission of regulating and supervising the provision of services of public interest, such as citizen security by private entities. In addition, it seeks to find the most affected groups as a result of a lack of due diligence. Moreover, it intends to identify good practices that are compatible with human rights, which are being implemented by countries in relation to private security companies.
The questionnaire may be partially or totally answered, depending on the information available to the respondent. Research, reports and other previously prepared and/or published documents, that may be relevant to the subject at hand, may be submitted. Questions can be answered regarding the issue of private security and its impact on human rights depending on the information available or the approach of the work of the OAS Member States, civil society organizations, intergovernmental entities, or any person that may be interested in submitting information on the specified questions.
The IACHR appreciates the contributions received as input for the preparation of this report, through which it seeks to identify States’ obligations to activities conducted by private security companies under their jurisdiction and the effects of these obligations on companies, providing recommendations on the subject.
A principal, autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS), the IACHR derives its mandate from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission has a mandate to promote respect for and to defend human rights in the region and acts as a consultative body to the OAS in this area. The Commission is composed of seven independent members who are elected in an individual capacity by the OAS General Assembly and who do not represent their countries of origin or residence.
This press release was modified on October 3, 2019.
No. 218/19