Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

• Comment: This needs some writing for clarity. You don't really state what VP is, since in one section you refer to it as if it was a book, in another like it's a company, and in another like it's a guideline. Also, while you say that these are used with governments you don't entirely make it clear if this is something that is an official part of the government. This also sometimes reads a little like a personal essay or a pro-VP article, but not to the point where it's a huge-huge issue.
  You need to be able to provide context so the average reader can know what exactly it is that you're talking about here.
  This also needs some non-primary sourcing since many of these appear to be by governments and organizations that use them or work closely with the group. This can make it likely that the organization will be notable, but it's not always a guarantee. A search heavily suggests that this is notable, so mostly you just need to add in some sources in places like academic texts just to show that it's not just people talking about themselves/the organization. Stuff like this would work well since it's by a very well known academic publisher. Here are some more, so if you can work these into the article that should be enough: [1], [2].
  Basically this decline is just because the article needs more context and explanation. Tokyogirl79 (｡◕‿◕｡) 07:33, 13 October 2015 (UTC)

• Comment: This appears notable, gauging from the available print sources. FoCuS contribs; talk to me! 18:56, 12 October 2015 (UTC)

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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;

While the VPs aren't designed to deal with root causes of conflicts, they do guide companies to have measures in place to prevent conflicts from escalating to violent confrontation. In an April 2015 article in The newsletter of the International Council on Mining and Metals, International Alert noted that while this potential seems to be recognized at senior levels in companies that have committed to the VPs, there is work still to be done to better implement the principles "on the ground". This reflects both the challenges of translating the principles into practices appropriate in each operating context, and also challenges companies can have in engaging with, and reaching agreements with, public authorities in operating locations.

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 Swiss government describes its efforts as both raising awareness of the VPs among mining companies based in Switzerland, and also engaging with host governments in resource rich countries to persuade those governments to join the initiative and also to promote dialogue between host governments, companies and civil society - particularly in Peru and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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.

External links

• Official Website