Colombia Partner In-Country Working Group
Since 2003, Colombia hosts a multi-stakeholder initiative created with the purpose of improving the country’s business operational environment through public policy advocacy, knowledge generation, development of tools and best practices, as well as the promotion of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The CME (Comité Minero Energético de Seguridad y Derechos Humanos, or Mining and Energy Committee on Security and Human Rights) is a permanent and independent multi-stakeholder initiative focused on dialogue and collaboration among various partakers from civil society and institutions, interested in the protection, promotion and respect of security-related human rights.
Currently, the CME has more than 33 members among companies in the oil, mining and energy sectors, national government entities, civil society organizations, academia, diplomatic missions, international organizations and consulting firms. As of 2015, the CME was established as a non-profit private association, aligned with Colombian law.
CME’s activities are structured in 3 strategic dimensions: (i) security-related human rights environment; (ii) sustainability; and (iii) stakeholder engagement.
Different working groups in the CME
The CME Working Groups are the mechanism par excellence for deliberation and knowledge management in security and human rights. CME members participate in, at least, one working group in a systematic and committed manner. Currently, there are three working groups:
Working Group on the Engagement of Companies with Public Forces and Private Security Providers
This space works monthly around the analysis and opportunities for improvement of the different mechanisms and challenges of relationship, to ensure a framework of transparent relations and focused on human rights.
Context Analysis and Risk Management Working Group
This space deliberates monthly around the analysis of the different risk scenarios of the operating environments and management measures. The CME has developed a tool that systematizes the risks, their root causes and impact on human rights, as an input for work and analysis.
Stakeholder Engagement Working Group
This space deliberates every two months and develops an agenda focused on strengthening relations with different stakeholders, especially with civil society organizations.
Public Documents
In its decades of operation, the CME has published eight recommendation documents for risk management in the mining and energy operations in Colombia. You can read the recommendations in this link (in Spanish): https://cmecolombia.co/recomendaciones/.
Contacts
CME – Comité Minero Energético de Seguridad y Derechos Humanos
Name: Luz Stella Páez, Executive Director
Name: Catalina Triviño, Gestora del Conocimiento
Email: comunicaciones@cmecolombia.co
More information: www.cmecolombia.co