Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights were set up in 2000
by the FCO and US State Department to provide guidance to companies in
the extractive sector on responsible business practices. The Voluntary
Principles advise companies how to engage with public and private security
providers, and how they should conduct effective risk assessments so as to
ensure their security operations do not lead to human rights abuses or
exacerbate conflict. The Voluntary Principles are supported by seven
governments; 18 multinational oil, gas and mining companies; and nine
NGOs, who meet annually to share best practice and monitor adherence to
the principles.

In March, the US assumed the chair of the Voluntary Principles. We

continued to play a leading role in supporting reforms to the Voluntary
Principles’ governance, administrative and financial arrangements. We also
provided increased funding to the Voluntary Principles Secretariat for
2010/11. We expect many of these reforms to be adopted at the March 2011
Plenary in Washington DC. The reforms will improve the effectiveness of the
Voluntary Principles. This should in turn help attract new interest and
membership, which should ensure a broader reach for the Voluntary
Principles and greater protection from the risk of abuse for people living in
fragile or conflict-affected states.

In 2010 we encouraged a number of governments, including those of Ghana,

Peru, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia and Nigeria, to join
the Voluntary Principles. In Indonesia the Embassy supported the efforts of a
local NGO, the Indonesia Centre for Ethics, to raise awareness about the
Voluntary Principles with senior government officials, police officers and large
international companies. The Embassy has also funded a human rights
training package which will be provided to Indonesian Voluntary Principles
partners, including the security forces, industry, local government
administration and NGOs.
In the DRC, embassy officials participated in discussions with companies,
governments and civil society about implementing the Voluntary Principles in
the DRC, as well as the range of security and human rights challenges facing
the mining sector. Participants agreed to try to persuade the DRC
government to join the Voluntary Principles.

In Peru, embassy officials participated in a number of workshops and

meetings with Peruvian government officials from the ministries of mine and
energy, defence, and environment to discuss Peruvian membership of the
Voluntary Principles. We will continue to encourage the government of Peru
to join the Voluntary Principles.