Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (the Voluntary Principles) provide guidance to companies in developing practices that maintain the safety and security of their operations while respecting the human rights of those who come into contact with security forces related to those operations. The phrase also refers to the tripartite multi-stakeholder initiative that developed the principles and promotes their adoption. To distinguish between the principles and the multi-stakeholder initiative, the principles are frequently abbreviated to the VPs and the tripartite organization is abbreviated to the VPI (Voluntary Principles Initiative).

the Voluntary Principles

The introduction to the text of the VPs includes the following statement that captures the various interests that the principles attempt to address: “Acknowledging that security is a fundamental need, shared by individuals, communities, businesses, and governments alike, and acknowledging the difficult security issues faced by Companies operating globally, we recognize that security and respect for human rights can and should be consistent”

The VPs include provisions defining expectations that:

• companies should regularly engage with host governments and local communities regarding security issues and practices;
• security forces should act in a manner consistent with UN Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, including that any use of force needs to be proportional to the related threat;
• companies should have mechanisms for the reporting and investigation of allegations of improper actions by private security forces hired by the company;
• companies should have mechanism to report alleged abuses by public security forces in their area of operation, and to encourage and monitor progress of investigations;

Supporting documentation for the VPs includes definitions of role and responsibilities of participating companies, governments, and non-governmental organizations. Member organizations have also produced guidance documents to assist companies and civil society organizations in working with the VPs. In 2008 International Alert, with financial support from the U.K. and Canadian governments, developed a guide titled "Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights: Performance Indicators". In 2015 the Global Compact Network Canada launched a "Guidance Document on the Assurance of the Voluntary Principles (VPs) on Security and Human Rights" to assist companies in assessing their degree of implementation of the VPs.

Member countries also make efforts to encourage companies operating internationally to adhere to the VPs. The Canadian government includes the VPs in its framework "Doing Business the Canadian Way: A Strategy to Advance Corporate Social Responsibility in Canada’s Extractive Sector Abroad".

The Voluntary Principles (VPs) were established in 2000, and although developed before the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the VPs are consistent with the responsibility of business to respect human rights as outlined in the UN Guiding Principles.

Voluntary Principles Initiative (organization)

The Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) is a multi-stakeholder initiative composed of governments, multinational oil, gas, and mining companies, and non-governmental organizations. The initiative is chaired by a member government, rotating between country members annually. As of 2015 participants in the initiative include 9 national governments, 27 companies, and 10 non-governmental organizations. In 2010 the law firm Foley Hoag LLP was selected to act as the Secretariat of the VPI.

The VPI holds an annual two day plenary meeting to discuss progress and issues in the implementation of the VPs and to agree on collective priorities for the Initiative in the following year.