Public Commitment and Implementation
Implementation requires a public policy commitment to conducting security operations in a manner that respects human rights. The Principles must also be integrated into company management systems, together with the development and implementation of appropriate policies and procedures, including:
- Public policy commitment
- Security and human rights risk assessment
- Use of force protocols and codes of conduct
- Training of security providers
Risk Assessment and Multistakeholder Collaboration
Implementation requires that a security and human rights risk assessment be performed periodically, to understand not just security risks but also human rights risks related to security operations. Risk assessments must be comprehensive, especially when companies are operating in high-risk areas, and they should involve multiple stakeholders, including different actors within companies, the community, governments, NGOs, and service providers. Multistakeholder collaboration is also greatly beneficial when endeavouring to understand security and human rights challenges, monitor compliance, and implement grievance mechanisms.
Implementation Resources
Free, downloadable resources are available on our Resources page for those interested in implementing the Principles, strengthening their implementation, or addressing complex issues. The Implementation Guidance Tools and the 10 Steps to Maintain Security in Compliance with Human Rights are helpful starting points. Documents tagged as Key Resources cover particularly important topics related to implementation.
Resources
Implementation Assessment
Companies interested in self-assessment or external assessment of their VPSHR implementation are encouraged to use the following tools:
- Global Compact Network Canada: Auditing Implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
- International Alert: Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Performance Indicators
Training Materials for Security Providers
Implementation requires that security providers be trained on human rights and organizational policies and that companies establish related procedures (e.g., use of force protocols and codes of conduct). The VPI offers a free training guide (English and Spanish) on the practical application of the Principles in security operations for public and private providers.
Supporting On-the-Ground Implementation
Supporting On-the-Ground Implementation
The VPI supports on-the-ground implementation by providing Members with capacity-building resources, supporting In-Country Working Groups to address local implementation challenges, promoting dialogue among members, and monitoring and evaluating implementations.
On-the-ground implementation is always strengthened by constructive multistakeholder dialogue—involving companies, NGOs and governments—about security and human rights issues and challenges. The VPI encourages those implementing the Principles in complex contexts to foster multistakeholder dialogue, even if it is informal, to understand problems, find collective solutions, and promote better human rights compliance.
The VPI supports In-Country Working Groups in Brazil, Chile, Ghana and Nigeria and collaborates with Partner Working Groups in Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique and Peru.
In-Country Working Groups
The VPI’s In-Country Working Groups meet regularly to plan and implement agreed-upon activities such as awareness-raising, local capacity-strengthening, surveying and reporting on local baselines, and developing tools and approaches to support local needs. In-Country Working Groups may also promote best practices on a local, national, sub-national or regional level.
Brazil (VPI Working Group)
Since November 2022, the Brazil Working Group has been meeting quarterly, alternating between online and in-person meetings. It has very strong corporate participation from both the mining and oil and gas sectors in Brazil, as well as growing engagement with representatives from several ministries of the Brazilian Government and civil society.
Chile (VPI Working Group)
Launched in September 2024, the Chile In-Country Working Group is led by local NGO Fundación Empresas Indígenas. Group members, which include representatives from companies, civil society, the Chilean government, and foreign governments via their embassies, meet periodically to discuss security and human rights issues in the country. The group is currently working collaboratively to identify its priorities for the coming years.
Colombia (Partner Working Group)
Created in 2003 with the support of the Colombian government, the CME (Comité Minero Energético de Seguridad y Derechos Humanos) is a permanent, independent multistakeholder initiative focused on the protection, promotion and respect of security-related human rights in Colombia. Its purpose is to improve the business operational environment through public policy advocacy, knowledge generation, better practices, and the promotion of the VPSHR.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (Partner Working Groups)
Two regional groups meet periodically in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, one focused on the provinces of Haut-Katanga, Lualaba and Kongo Central, and the other on Sud-Kivu. Both groups work to implement best practices in human rights and security in the mining, gas and oil sectors. They ensure a constructive dialogue that offers opportunities for cooperation between actors from civil society, companies and the government.
Ghana (VPI Working Group)
Since 2017, the group has met quarterly to discuss security and human rights issues in the natural resource sector, to support government efforts to implement VPSHR programs and policy, and to share best practices and lessons learned. Its priority areas include public security training, private security licensing and regulatory reforms, security and human rights application in small-scale mining, and coordination between oil and gas sector actors and coastal communities.
Mozambique (Partner Working Groups)
Mozambique has two In-Country Working Groups, one operating at the national level, in Maputo, and the other mainly in the Cabo Delgado region. The working groups’ vision includes bolstering security measures, promoting sustainable development, and upholding human rights within the framework of multinational operations. Their activities encompass training, capacity building and knowledge sharing.
Myanmar (VPI Working Group – suspended)
The In-Country Working Group in Myanmar met regularly from 2018 until it had to suspend its activities due to the coup d’état in 2021. The Myanmar Centre For Responsible Business (MCRB) acted as the Secretariat and supported its activities. In addition to meeting periodically, promoting dialogue, and raising awareness with stakeholders, the MDRB developed a baseline study of security and human rights challenges in Myanmar.
Nigeria (VPI Working Group)
Created in 2017, the Nigeria working group promotes the implementation of the Voluntary Principles through advocacy and engagements, awareness campaigns, and training of critical stakeholders. It also conducted a national baseline study on implementation in Nigeria. Its activities include quarterly meetings, facilitation of advocacy engagements, multistakeholder dialogues, and capacity-building training on the Principles.
Peru (Partner Working Groups)
Peru has a national working group in Lima that has been meeting for 15 years, with a longstanding track record of cross-pillar participation. More recently, a regional group was set up in Cusco. The working groups offer a multistakeholder space for dialogue and discussion on the Voluntary Principles and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
Expected Outcomes for In-Country Working Groups
Expected Outcomes for In-Country Working Groups
In-Country Working Groups strive continuously to better promote and respect human rights in the context of their security practices and make every effort to prevent conflict. They also seek to achieve the following outcomes:
- Working Groups have increased capacity to accurately understand, predict, prevent and address human rights risks and existing impacts related to security operations.
- Companies and security providers have increased capacity to plan and implement security operations that respect the safety and human rights of community members.
- Working Group members have increased knowledge and capacity to effectively operationalize the VPSHR in their local context, including increased responsiveness to community concerns and better management of security and human rights risks.
For more information, see the In-Country Working Groups Theory of Change Framework below.