PRIVATE SECURITY companies are a growth industry and a significant source of employment in the Pacific yet the industry is largely unregulated and unmapped across the region.
To begin addressing the issue, a one-day workshop focussed on identifying key stakeholders, the issues, and possible policy or legislative solutions, was held yesterday at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji.
“The private security industry can play an important role in reducing crime, enhancing community safety and contributing to sustainable economic growth,” says Andie Fong Toy, Acting Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
“But as the demands for the privatisation of security increases, the absence of a comprehensive regional regulatory framework to manage this industry may have the potential to weaken regional security governance. This workshop will provide a beneficial platform to work together as a region and identify the way forward for a strengthened private security governance.”
Jointly hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the United Nations Development Programme, and in cooperation with Massey University and the Australian National University, the workshop brings together governments, private security companies, academics, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society organisations to map out ways of working with the private security industry.
Senior Peace and Development Advisor in UNDP, Sonja Bachmann said “We are pleased to partner with the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Massey University and ANU on this timely workshop to identify common issues, good practices and challenges to enhance private security governance in the region and within the context of advancing Sustainable Development Goal 16.”
— PIFS PRESS
The post A regional approach to strengthen private security governance appeared first on Islandsun Daily News.