The international community is undergoing a transformation in the way that security is managed. The growth of the private security industry in this regard has not been equally matched with adequate national or international responses. This lack of action has left a gap in which many critical issues emerge such as human rights concerns, corporate social responsibility and accountability. The United Nations stands in a critical position to take a leadership role in addressing not only specific issues that have emerged and require due attention, but on a wider scale to understand the very transformation of humanitarian and postconflict environments. This paper addresses emerging trends and evaluates responses and inherent limitations concerning the proliferation of private security within the international community, and in particular within the United Nations itself.

Published online: 11 December 2017