Business & Human Rights : Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights

Title: [PDF] SRSG John Ruggie Remarks at Mid-Year Special Session Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights - U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.

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Visit: [PDF] SRSG John Ruggie Remarks at Mid-Year Special Session Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights - U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.

Author: UN Special Representative John Ruggie
Dated: 01 Jul 2010

This is my third or fourth VPs meeting...This time, there actually are good reasons for feeling optimistic...I’m also glad to see three new participating governments present today: Canada, Colombia and Switzerland...Just a few weeks ago, the [UN Human Rights] Council strongly supported the idea that my final product next June should be a set of Guiding Principles for the implementation of the Framework...The VPs address a critical subset of issues encompassed by the Protect, Respect and Remedy Framework...My most recent report to the Council addresses the particular challenges posed by and to business operations in difficult contexts, such as conflict affected areas...We know that the worst forms of corporate-related human rights abuse take place in conflict...I know from a series of informal dialogues with a group of states under my mandate that home and host states rarely cooperate around these issues...As I see it, there are four immediate challenges. [refers to BP]

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Visit: United States Government Convenes Meeting with Extractives Companies on Human Rights and Security

Author: U.S. State Department
Dated:

Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Michael Posner is hosting, on behalf of the United States, a Mid-Year Special Session of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights June 30-July 1. Established in 2000, the Voluntary Principles (VPs) is a multi-stakeholder initiative that provides guidance to companies on improving the respect for human rights with regard to the use of public and private security forces in the oil, gas, and mining industries...As chair of the steering committee, the U.S. government is leading the effort to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of the Voluntary Principles.

Title: [PDF] Doing business while advancing peace and development

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Visit: [PDF] Doing business while advancing peace and development

Author: United Nations Global Compact
Dated: Jun 2010

Conflict affects a society at all levels…business has an interest in promoting peace and development, two main objectives of the United Nations…what is the scope of the private sector’s contribution in conflict prevention, post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building efforts?…[T]his publication showcases how companies from different sectors are contributing to peace and development in difficult environments around the world. It provides helpful examples of how companies from a variety of sectors operating in different conflict-prone or post-conflict environments around the world are dealing with some of the challenges they are confronting. [refers to BP, Talisman Energy, Satemwa Tea Estate, Protina, Sagya, United RUSAL, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Petrobras, Newmont Mining, Sumitomo Chemical (part of Sumitomo Group), PricewaterhouseCoopers, Coca Cola, Energoinvest, ArcelorMittal, Komatsu, Safaricom, Aastra, Promon]

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Visit: [PDF] Guide on How to Develop a Human Rights Policy

Author: United Nations Global Compact
Dated:

A human rights policy can take many forms and has no uniform definition…Adopting a human rights policy is only a first step in a company’s human rights due diligence towards meeting its responsibility to respect human rights. But it sends a clear signal to internal and external stakeholders...This Guide to Developing a Human Rights Policy seeks to outline why companies should respect human rights, the principle reasons for adopting a human rights policy, its key ingredients and the best practice process to develop one. [refers to BlackRock, AXA Investment Manager, Calvert, HSBC, Barclays, Cadbury, Ford, ABB, Codelco, Mitsubishi, Coca-Cola, Alcoa, Bayer, Eni, Yahoo, ANZ Bank, Marks & Spencer, AngloGold Ashanti, AstraZeneca, Westpac, BASF, General Electric, Vale, Fujitsu, National Grid, Novartis, Pentland, HP, Adidas, Anadolu Efes, TeliaSonera, Vodafone, Balfour Beatty, DuPont, Reebok, Tesco, Carrefour, Phillips-Van Heusen, IKEA, Tata, CNOOC, Cerrejón, Shell, BG Group, BHP Billiton, GSK, Total, H&M, Marriott]

Title: [PDF] Survey of state corporate social responsibility policies: Summary of key trends

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Author: Prepared for John Ruggie, UN Special Representative on business and human rights
Dated: June 2010

[T]he Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) on Business and Human Rights…noted in his 2009 report to the Council…most States have already adopted policies and implemented regulation in core areas of business and human rights, including labor rights and workplace non-discrimination. However, they have been slow to address the more systemic challenge of fostering rights-respecting corporate cultures and practices..OHCHR [Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights] sent a survey on State CSR policies to all UN Member States on 22 April 2009...The Survey is a follow up to an earlier survey sent to all UN Member States in 2006.12 The 2006 survey asked States to identify the entire range of tools they use to prevent and address corporate-related human rights abuse…This paper discusses the Survey’s main themes.

Title: Stakeholder coalitions in crisis

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Visit: Stakeholder coalitions in crisis

Author: Hugh Williamson, Financial Times
Dated: 07 Jun 2010

...“conflict” or “blood” diamonds are back on the international agenda...alleged human rights abuses involving hundreds of deaths in diamond fields in Zimbabwe, a member of the [Kimberley Process] scheme, have thrown the future of the initiative into doubt. According to human rights groups, in late 2008 government soldiers descended on the Marange diamond fields...killings, torture and beatings followed...The Zimbabwean government disputes the allegations. Last year, the country’s neighbours blocked suggestions of suspending Harare from the Kimberley Process, but exports from Marange were meant to be temporarily halted. In reality, they continued until last month. For Andrew Bone...[from] De Beers, the controversy has been nothing short of a “nightmare”...[M]any experts are questioning whether multi-stakeholder coalitions have their limits...Initiatives under scrutiny [:] The Kimberley Process...The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative...Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights...Like Kimberley, some of the longer established alliances have recently come under strain...Such coalitions have brought benefits...There is also a compelling business case for companies to become involved...Still, business representatives acknowledge that the multi-stakeholder approach needs to change...

Title: [PDF] Launch of online portal on “Business, Conflict & Peace”

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Visit: [PDF] Launch of online portal on “Business, Conflict & Peace”

Author: Business & Human Rights Resource Centre
Dated: 31 May 2010

Today at the United Nations in Geneva, the non-profit Business & Human Rights Resource Centre is launching the first global information hub on “Business, Conflict & Peace”...Chris Avery, Director of the Resource Centre, said: “We are giving this subject priority because it is in conflict zones where abuses are most severe, where the risk of complicity is greatest, and where victims are the most vulnerable. We created this portal to bring together in one place all the best information about how companies are impacting human rights (positively or negatively) in conflict and post-conflict zones – and to provide guidance on how to avoid abuses”...The portal explains key initiatives in this field.

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Visit: [PDF] Lanzamiento del portal en línea "Empresas, Conflicto y Paz"

Author: Centro de Información sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos
Dated:

El Centro de Información sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanos, CIEDH (organización sin ánimo de lucro) lanza hoy, en la Organización de las Naciones Unidas en Ginebra, la primera plataforma de información en el mundo sobre "Empresas, Conflicto y Paz"…Chris Avery, director del CIEDH, dijo: "Estamos dándole prioridad a éste asunto porque es en zonas de conflicto donde los abusos son más graves, donde el riesgo de complicidad es mayor, y donde las víctimas son más vulnerables. Hemos creado éste portal para reunir, en un sólo lugar, la mejor información sobre los impactos de las empresas privadas sobre los derechos humanos (positivos o negativos) en zonas de conflicto y post-conflicto, y para proporcionar orientación sobre cómo evitar los abusos".

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Visit: [PDF] Lancement du portail “Entreprises, conflits et paix”

Author: Le Centre de Ressources sur les Entreprises et les Droits de l’Homme
Dated:

Le Centre de Ressources sur les Entreprises et les Droits de l’Homme (organisation à but non lucratif) lance aujourd'hui, à l'Organisation des Nations Unies à Genève, la première plateforme d’informations au monde sur le sujet " Entreprises, Conflits et Paix»… Chris Avery, le directeur du Centre de Ressources, a déclaré: “Nous donnons la priorité à ce sujet parce que c’est dans les zones de conflit que les abus sont les plus graves, le risque de complicité le plus fort, et les victimes les plus vulnérables. Nous avons créé ce portail afin de réunir, en un seul lieu, les meilleures informations sur la façon dont les entreprises impactent les droits de l'homme (positivement ou négativement) dans les zones de conflit et post-conflit et de fournir des conseils sur la façon d'éviter les abus”.

Title: 'Companies are rarely innocent bystanders': Q&A with Irene Khan

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Author: Critical Resource
Dated: May 2010

Until the end of 2009, Irene Khan was Secretary General of Amnesty International…Her new book 'The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights' argues that current efforts to reduce global poverty through economic growth fail to consider the human rights of the poor…Countries rich in oil and minerals are also often conflict-ridden, poverty-stricken and ruled by…oppressive regimes with appalling human rights records. But companies are rarely innocent bystanders in such situations. They have been known to…sometimes even to instigate violence…The tide is turning in favour of corporate accountability for human rights. Ruggie himself has argued that…companies have the duty to respect all human rights in their operations and activities…

Title: [PDF] The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights: An Implementation Toolkit for Major Project Sites

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Author: Don McFetridge - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, Japan Environmental and Social Challenges Fund, Anvil Mining
Dated: July 2008

...This toolkit on implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights [VPSHR] is a by-product of a project undertaken by MIGA’s Japan Social and Environmental Challenges Fund for Africa in collaboration with...Anvil Mining, to develop a comprehensive VPSHR implementation program for Anvil’s operations in Africa...[T]his document is a starting point for companies and projects to develop site-level VPSHR implementation plans tailored to their specific location and needs...[During its] preparation...specialists from the mining industry, non-governmental organizations and the World Bank Group...contributed helpful input...[T]his document does not constitute official guidance either from the World Bank Group or from the VPSHR secretariat...Further, the secretariat of the VPSHR is currently developing formal recommendations for VPSHR implementation.

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Visit: [PDF] Implementing high ideals and aspirations - implementation toolkits are an important step in ensuring high standards in the field [scroll to pg. 29]

Author: J.J. Messner, in Journal of International Peace Operations
Dated:

A few weeks ago...an important session of the Human Rights and Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C....focused on the launch of a new, breakthrough document: "The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights: An Implementation Toolkit for Major Project Sites." The Toolkit...provid[es] guidance for companies to implement the Voluntary Principles on the ground. The Toolkit...splits into two primary categories – how to implement the Voluntary Principles into internal company processes and how to implement them with external actors...It represents a serious attempt from both the extractive companies and industry stakeholders (the report was funded by the World Bank Group's...MIGA, in partnership with Anvil Mining) to make sure the Voluntary Principles evolve...to being meaningfully implemented on the ground...

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Visit: [PDF] Les Principes Volontaires sur la Sécurité et les Droits de l’Homme: Un Ensemble d'outils de mis en oeuvre pour les sites majeurs de projet

Author: Don McFetridge, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, Fonds d’affectation pour les défis sociaux et environnementaux du Japon, Anvil Mining
Dated:

Cet ensemble d’outils pour la mise en oeuvre des Principes volontaires sur la sécurité et les droits de l'homme est le sous-produit d’un projet entrepris par le Fonds d’affectation pour les défis sociaux et environnementaux du Japon, pour l’Afrique, en collaboration avec...Anvil Mining...pour l’élaboration d’un programme complet de mise en oeuvre des PVSDH pour les opérations d’Anvil en Afrique...Les outils et les informations générées au cours de ce projet sont maintenant accessibles à un plus large public. Ce document décrit la façon d’élaborer et de mettre en oeuvre un plan de PVSDH et comment, dans le même temps, on peut obtenir son adoption par la direction générale.

Title: [PDF] Implementing high ideals and aspirations - implementation toolkits are an important step in ensuring high standards in the field [scroll to pg. 29]

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Visit: [PDF] Implementing high ideals and aspirations - implementation toolkits are an important step in ensuring high standards in the field [scroll to pg. 29]

Author: J.J. Messner, in Journal of International Peace Operations
Dated: November - December 2008

A few weeks ago...an important session of the Human Rights and Business Roundtable in Washington, D.C....focused on the launch of a new, breakthrough document: "The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights: An Implementation Toolkit for Major Project Sites." The Toolkit...provid[es] guidance for companies to implement the Voluntary Principles on the ground. The Toolkit...splits into two primary categories – how to implement the Voluntary Principles into internal company processes and how to implement them with external actors...It represents a serious attempt from both the extractive companies and industry stakeholders (the report was funded by the World Bank Group's...MIGA, in partnership with Anvil Mining) to make sure the Voluntary Principles evolve...to being meaningfully implemented on the ground...

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Visit: [PDF] The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights: An Implementation Toolkit for Major Project Sites

Author: Don McFetridge - Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, Japan Environmental and Social Challenges Fund, Anvil Mining
Dated:

...This toolkit on implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights [VPSHR] is a by-product of a project undertaken by MIGA’s Japan Social and Environmental Challenges Fund for Africa in collaboration with...Anvil Mining, to develop a comprehensive VPSHR implementation program for Anvil’s operations in Africa...[T]his document is a starting point for companies and projects to develop site-level VPSHR implementation plans tailored to their specific location and needs...[During its] preparation...specialists from the mining industry, non-governmental organizations and the World Bank Group...contributed helpful input...[T]his document does not constitute official guidance either from the World Bank Group or from the VPSHR secretariat...Further, the secretariat of the VPSHR is currently developing formal recommendations for VPSHR implementation.

Title: [PDF] Overview of Company Efforts to Implement Voluntary Principles

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Author: Informal Working Group, Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
Dated: 2006

The objective of this report is to provide companies with a summary of the experiences and learning to date associated with implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights… The information gathering process revealed...trends and challenges in company implementation...The Voluntary Principles are seen as genuinely filling a critical void for companies seeking guidance…especially in countries that are often associated with conflict or alleged abuses… Furthermore...emerging best practices in implementation were identified…Voluntary Principles are incorporated in all private security contracts, project legal frameworks with governments and standard company risk assessments…

Title: [PDF] Stakeholder Submission on United States Obligations to Respect, Protect and Remedy Human Rights in the Context of Business Activities

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Visit: [PDF] Stakeholder Submission on United States Obligations to Respect, Protect and Remedy Human Rights in the Context of Business Activities

Author: Center for Constitutional Rights, EarthRights International, Western Shoshone Defense Project, ESCR-Net
Dated: 19 Apr 2010

This joint stakeholder submission analyzes the United States’ record in discharging its obligations to respect, protect and remedy in the context of human rights abuses involving business enterprises acting abroad and on or near indigenous lands in the United States.1 Businesses under U.S. domestic and extraterritorial jurisdiction…across the spectrum of industries have been implicated in, or found culpable for, inter alia, child labor, forced labor, extrajudicial killings and torture, abuses to the right to information, labor rights abuses, environmental abuses, gender discrimination, severe impacts to human health, and abuses to indigenous peoples’ rights…The State party is not doing enough to ensure that government agencies monitor and respect human rights in their dealings with private business projects. [refers to Blackwater (now Xe Services), Bridgestone, Caterpillar, Chiquita, KBR, Pfizer, Titan (now L-3 Titan, part of L-3 Communications), Unocal (part of Chevron)

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Visit: ERI Submits Reports to the U.N. on U.S. Corporate Accountability and Human Rights Litigation

Author: EarthRights International
Dated:

EarthRights International submitted two reports to the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights today, in connection with the U.N. Human Rights Council’s periodic review of the human rights obligations of the United States. The first submission, a coalition report coauthored by ERI, the International Network for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR-Net), the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the Western Shoshone Defense Project, evaluates the United States’ performance on corporate accountability for activities abroad or affecting indigenous people’s rights, including the areas of protecting against human rights abuses by corporations and providing remedies for corporate abuses. The second report, submitted by ERI alone, focuses on the United States government’s approach in human rights litigation in U.S. courts.

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Title: [PDF] SRSG John Ruggie Remarks at Mid-Year Special Session Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights - U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.

List item: 1

Title: [PDF] Doing business while advancing peace and development

List item: 1

Title: [PDF] Survey of state corporate social responsibility policies: Summary of key trends

Title: Stakeholder coalitions in crisis

Title: [PDF] Launch of online portal on “Business, Conflict & Peace”

List item: 1

List item: 2

Title: 'Companies are rarely innocent bystanders': Q&A with Irene Khan

Title: [PDF] The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights: An Implementation Toolkit for Major Project Sites

List item: 1

List item: 1

Title: [PDF] Implementing high ideals and aspirations - implementation toolkits are an important step in ensuring high standards in the field [scroll to pg. 29]

List item: 1

Title: [PDF] Overview of Company Efforts to Implement Voluntary Principles

Title: [PDF] Stakeholder Submission on United States Obligations to Respect, Protect and Remedy Human Rights in the Context of Business Activities

List item: 1

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