The Expanding Importance of the Principles

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (“VPSHR” or the “Principles”) are more relevant today than ever. Against the backdrop of surging global demand for minerals and natural resources driven by the energy transition, technological innovation, and strategic defence needs, governments and industries are racing to secure sustainable and ethical supply chains. The Principles provide a vital framework to help manage the security and human rights risks that often accompany operations in high-risk and complex environments.

How the Principles Benefit Governments

The Principles help governments address complex security challenges in the mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, and large-scale agriculture sectors while upholding their human rights obligations. Implementing the VPSHR contributes directly to both political and economic stability, helping to prevent conflict and create better development outcomes.

Uphold Human Rights Commitments
Strengthen Project and Supply Chain Sustainability
Promote Peace and Security
Reduce Investment Risk and Increase Competitiveness

The Principles are a key framework for ensuring human rights and security standards are upheld across sectors. They help governments fulfill their duty to protect human

By promoting responsible and rights-respecting security practices, the VPSHR can help reduce conflict in mining areas critical to global supply chains. This reduces the risk of disruptions and enhances the sustainability of critical mineral and energy flows—an increasingly strategic priority for governments.

In addition to training their own security forces to comply with the Principles, governments can use them to guide their regulation and oversight of private security forces, preventing excessive use of force and improving trust between local communities and state institutions, particularly in regions affected by fragility or conflict.

Endorsing and promoting the Principles signals responsible governance, which improves countries’ investment climates and attracts companies that prioritize environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Stable and profitable projects can promote local economic growth.

  • Uphold Human Rights Commitments

    The Principles are a key framework for ensuring human rights and security standards are upheld across sectors. They help governments fulfill their duty to protect human

  • Strengthen Project and Supply Chain Sustainability

    By promoting responsible and rights-respecting security practices, the VPSHR can help reduce conflict in mining areas critical to global supply chains. This reduces the risk of disruptions and enhances the sustainability of critical mineral and energy flows—an increasingly strategic priority for governments.

  • Promote Peace and Security

    In addition to training their own security forces to comply with the Principles, governments can use them to guide their regulation and oversight of private security forces, preventing excessive use of force and improving trust between local communities and state institutions, particularly in regions affected by fragility or conflict.

  • Reduce Investment Risk and Increase Competitiveness

    Endorsing and promoting the Principles signals responsible governance, which improves countries’ investment climates and attracts companies that prioritize environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards. Stable and profitable projects can promote local economic growth.

Government Members of the Voluntary Principles Initiative

By becoming a Member of the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI), governments join a unique multistakeholder platform for shared learning, capacity building, and global influence. The VPI brings together governments, companies and NGOs committed to improving security-related human rights outcomes.

Government Members

Why Join the Voluntary Principles Initiative

Shape Global Best Practices

Participating governments help set the direction of the VPI and contribute to shaping global norms on responsible security and human rights practices.

Peer Learning and Technical Expertise

The VPI creates a safe space for its Members to interact and learn from other governments, companies, and NGOs who share their experiences and can offer practical guidance on implementation challenges.

Membership Documents – Governments

Becoming a Member

VPI membership is open to:

  • Governments
  • Companies operating in the extraction and development of natural resources (i.e., mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, and large-scale agriculture)
  • Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) working to advance human rights or other important norms relevant to the Voluntary Principles

Applicants must demonstrate that they meet the entry criteria of their category. For more information, including how to apply, please visit our Membership page.

Membership

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