Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

Initially conceived at a Fund for Peace Human Rights & Business Roundtable meeting, the Fund for Peace is an active participant in the Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights. The Fund for Peace is proud to be serving on the Steering Committee of the Voluntary Principles for the 2012-13 term.

Through partnerships, we support Voluntary Principles implementation by companies. Working with both oil/gas and mining companies, we have helped draft human rights policies, created assessment capabilities related to security and human rights, undertaken conflict and human rights assessments, and developed human rights and Voluntary Principles training materials.

In Indonesia, working with local institutions we have helped develop one of the most active national working groups to encourage adoption of the Voluntary Principles in Indonesia by companies and the Indonesian government.

In 2010, we produced with our partner, International Alert, a Guidance Note on Implementation of the VPs at the National Level, which is being applied in Indonesia, Iraq and D.R. Congo.

For more information on the Voluntary Principles, please visit www.voluntaryprinciples.org

People @ The Fund for Peace

Krista Hendry
Executive Director
E: khendry@fundforpeace.org

J. J. Messner
Senior Associate
E: jmessner@fundforpeace.org

Publications

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VPSHR National-Level Implementation

Published November 10, 2011 | By Krista Hendry and Diana Klein

While the Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights have grown over the past ten years to include 7 governments, 18 companies, and 9 NGOs, there has been too little focus on national?level implementation within the countries that have challenges related to security and human rights. At the same time, there has been little guidance, with the exception of a case study on Colombia, given to those in the countries on how they can encourage VPs adoption by host governments and extractive companies operating in the country.

The purpose of this document, which will be public, is to give guidance to those interested in initiating or supporting a national?level process to implement the VPs. The document lays out basic elements for consideration based on existing national?level processes. The Fund for Peace (FfP) and International Alert (IA) have joined in this effort as two of the participant NGOs in the international?level dialogue of the VPs, with funding from the Government of Norway and support from the Government of the Republic of Colombia, two of the governments formally involved in the process. This guidance note has been informed by existing in?country processes ? largely Colombia and Indonesia, as well as experience and insight gathered from participants at a workshop in Bogota in June 2010.

This guidance note should also not be viewed as overly prescriptive. As will be evident throughout this document, a national?level process will invariably be different in each area. Every country will have its own unique set of actors, challenges and opportunities.

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Assessing Risk and Finding Opportunities

Published March 1, 2010 | By Krista Hendry

Extractive companies have come under increasing scrutiny due to their operations in areas with weak or oppressive governments, impoverished communities and overall potential for conflict. Often blamed for creating or exacerbating conditions that could cause violence to erupt or human rights abuses to occur, extractive companies have become more aware of their potential impact on and within communities. To protect their employees, physical assets, ability to operate and international reputations, extractive companies assess not only their own security, but also that of neighboring communities and often the country as a whole.

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