New Resources Available in Spanish
April 19, 2024 •
To better support the global implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) and to enhance accessibility to non-English speaking stakeholders from around the world, the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) has translated many of its tools and publications into different languages, including French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
We are pleased to add two more translated documents to our online Resource Library – the latest VPI “Guidance on Respecting the Rights of Human Rights Defenders”, and one of the most popular resources, “10 Steps to Maintain Security in Compliance with Human Rights”. Both are now available in Spanish and freely accessible to the public.
First launched in English in December 2023, the “Guidance on Respecting the Rights of Human Rights Defenders” offers an actionable framework for companies to identify and address risks to human rights defenders across key elements of Voluntary Principles implementation, from risk assessment and due diligence, to stakeholder and community engagement, to relationships with security forces and host country governments.
Also known as “VPs 101”, “10 Steps to Maintain Security in Compliance with Human Rights” is a useful toolkit that provides step-by-step guidance for companies and security professionals to establish a meaningful security and human rights program. The tool is also available in French and Portuguese.
More Translated Materials in VPI online Resource Library
The Resource Library houses a myriad of useful materials — and in a variety of languages — with information to support implementation of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. Key VPI resources include:
- Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) (available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and Chinese)
Established in 2000, the VPSHR are a set of principles designed to guide companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that encourages respect for human rights. Although originally developed for the extractive, the principles are now widely implemented across many different industries.
- VPSHR Training Course (available in English and Spanish)
The training course aims to provide companies, as well as public and private security personnel, the knowledge and an understanding of how to conduct daily security operations in compliance with the VPSHR and in alignment with the company’s policies regarding human rights and ethical conduct. Please note that the VPI does not administer training. The material is freely available and can be adapted by organizations in any way that best serves their needs.
- VPSHR Implementation Guidance Tools (IGT) (available in English and Spanish)
The publication, the most detailed resource on VPs implementation, contains a set of tools designed to help companies, their employees, and contractors implement the VPSHR. While the IGT was created with the extractive sector in mind, companies in other sectors may also find it to be a useful guide when operating in complex and conflict-prone environments.