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The Role of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives in Ensuring Human Rights Due Diligence on the Private Security Supply Chain

Year:

Sources: Voluntary Principles Initiative, ICoCa

Private security providers are a key supplier for mineral companies. Private security personnel often act as the interface between mineral companies and the communities in which they operate. They secure mining sites, protect mineral company personnel and enable their operations, often in complex and challenging environments where the rule of law is weak and state support is lacking. Contracting private security providers that meet international standards, respect human rights and international humanitarian law is essential for any responsible mineral company.

So how should companies conduct human rights due diligence on their security providers?

How can responsible mineral companies be confident that the security personnel from the companies they contract, will be vetted, trained, fairly paid, fairly treated and conduct themselves to the same high standards they expect of their own employees?

This session look at the role of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) and the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers’ Association (ICoCA), in providing effective human rights due diligence mechanisms to ensure that private security providers contracted by mining companies act responsibly.

The session considered how these mechanisms can future proof responsible mining companies given the rising calls for mandatory human rights due diligence of multinational corporations supply chains. Reflecting on how human rights due diligence is beginning to share the stage with other non-financial reporting of Environmental, Social and Governance issues, the session demonstrated how human rights mechanisms such as the VPSHR and ICoCA are more relevant today and tomorrow, than they have ever been.

The webinar was held as part of the OECD 2021 Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains.

This session held on April 29, 2021.

Panelists:
– Frédéric Chenais, Senior Advisor, Business and Human Rights, ICoCA Chair and Board Member, VPSHR Board Member, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
– Mora Johnson, Head of Secretariat, Voluntary Principles on Security & Human Rights
– Richard Robinson, Strategic Advisor, Security Services, Middle East & Africa, GardaWorld
– Jamie Williamson, Executive Director, International Code of Conduct Association
– Mandla Zembe, Head of Protection Services, AngloAmerican Platinum Limited

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