Weapons Systems Supply and Operational or Logistical Support under the PSSA

31 May 2019

Tobias Vestner and Alessandro Mario Amoroso, from the GCSP Security and Law team, are the authors of a Training Guide designed for Swiss private security companies to fulfil the obligations introduced by the Federal Act on Private Security Services provided Abroad (PSSA). The guide is tailored to the needs of companies operating and maintaining weapons systems and/or providing installation services, training on equipment and systems, and/or operational or logistical support to armed forces. Its purpose is to enable company personnel to understand key concepts and standards of human rights and international humanitarian law, including the risk and avoidance of direct participation in hostilities. The various chapters provide the necessary knowledge and tools to train company personnel to identify, prevent, and report activities that can constitute direct participation in hostilities or complicity in human rights and international humanitarian law violations.

The guide includes thirty practical scenarios for training on direct participation in hostilities, with answers, which can be used to discuss the risk and avoidance of activities amounting to direct participation in hostilities.

Weapons Systems Supply and Operational or Logistical Support under the PSSA
Information
Dr Tobias Vestner
Director of Research and Policy Advice Department & Head of Security and Law
Mr Alessandro Mario Amoroso
Former GCSP staff as Programme Officer in the Security and Law team

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