Weapons Systems Supply and Operational or Logistical Support under the PSSA. A Training Guide to Comply with the Swiss Federal Act on Private Security Services provided Abroad

This Training Guide is designed for Swiss industry to fulfil the obligations introduced by the Federal Act on Private Security Services provided Abroad (PSSA) of 27 September 2013 and its accompanying Ordinance (OPSA) of 24 June 2015, entered into force on 1 September 2015. It 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, in order to ensure their activities do not violate the PSSA. The Guide therefore provides 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 Training Guide is complete with thirty scenarios for practical training on direct participation in hostilities, including answers, that can be used to discuss the risk and avoidance of activities amounting to direct participation in hostilities.