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Cyprus: Experts commend regulations on private security companies in maritime sector, urge stronger efforts for land-based companies

24 January 2025

NICOSIA – The UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries, commended the Republic of Cyprus on its efforts to regulate private security companies (PSCs) in the maritime sector, and called for more robust efforts on private security companies operating on-shore.

Working Group members, Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito and Michelle Small, just concluded a nine-day visit to the Republic of Cyprus to assess the regulations and challenges on the use of private security companies and mercenaries and mercenary-related actors. The experts particularly focused on the use of private maritime security companies, including on the Republic of Cyprus-flag ships in high-risk areas at sea.

“The Republic of Cyprus is among exemplary flag States worldwide, with strong regulations and standards governing private security companies in the maritime industry. Its commitment to safety and compliance in the use of armed guards on its ships in high-risk areas at sea has been proven. Currently there are only 12 companies approved by the Government to provide private armed security personnel on board their ships. These companies must demonstrate robust vetting processes,” the experts said in a statement at the end of the visit.

They said these measures have helped in protecting vessels against piracy and other threats at sea.

The regulatory framework in the Republic of Cyprus includes the law on Protection of Cyprus Ships Against Acts of Piracy and Other Unlawful Acts, and various best practices outlined by the International Maritime Organization and the International Labour Organization, which sets out standards on training, certification and conduct.

“High standards and compliance are critical in ensuring protection against human rights abuses or criminal acts given that arms and use of force can be used in these contexts,” the experts said.

The Republic of Cyprus adopted the law on Private Security Services Law of 2007 and has around 230 private security companies with over 5000 individuals licensed to act as private security personnel. With such a high number of PSC personnel in the country, the experts urged stronger oversight and implementation of the law to ensure security companies are operating within the law, its personnel are properly trained and equipped to carry out their functions. Currently, new amendments to this law are under discussion and provide an opportunity for human rights standards to be included in the training curriculum.

The Working Group urged the Republic of Cyprus to apply the same high standards and scrutiny to private security companies operating on land.

“Stronger oversight will help to weed out companies with weak vetting and training regimes, poor monitoring and lack of compliance with the law,” the experts said.

“We stand ready to cooperate with the Government of the Republic of Cyprus as well as the private security industry, both maritime and land-based to ensure that the delivery of security services respects the law and the full range of human rights of those it serves.”

The delegation held meetings in Nicosia, Larnaca and Limassol with representatives of Government, UN entities, non-government organisations, private security industry, and other stakeholders.

The Working Group will present a full report on its findings to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2025.

The Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the rights of peoples to self-determination was established in July 2005 by the then Commission on Human Rights. Its mandate was further extended by the Human Rights Council in 2008. The Group is comprised of five independent expert members from various regions of the world. The Chairperson-Rapporteur is Ms. Jovana Jezdimirovic Ranito (Serbia). Other members are Mr. Ravindran Daniel (India), Ms. Michelle Small (South Africa), Ms. Joana de Deus Pereira, (Portugual) and Mr. Andrés Macías Tolosa (Colombia).

Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.

Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/

UN Human Rights, country page – https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/cyprus

For additional information before and during the visit and media requests, please contact: [email protected]

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts please contact Maya Derouaz ([email protected]) or Dharisha Indraguptha ([email protected])

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