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Article

24 Sep 2013

Author:
swissinfo.ch

Mercenary services outlawed by parliament (Switzerland)

Private security contractors based in Switzerland will no longer be allowed to provide mercenaries and will have to report to the federal authorities any services they plan to supply beyond the country’s borders. New legislation...will be applied to all firms that provide security services outside of Switzerland. Any direct participation in an armed conflict is also banned. The ban covers recruitment, training and supplying personnel in Switzerland and abroad. Activities that undermine Switzerland’s traditional neutrality and its foreign policy aims, including the respect of humanitarian law are also outlawed. A firm would for example not be allowed to manage a prison in a country known for its human rights violations. Other problematic activities include intelligence gathering or freeing hostages...All planned activities outside of Switzerland will have to be reported to the foreign ministry. [refers to Aegis Defence Services]