Corporate Social Responsibility: Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Plenary Adopts Formal Participation Criteria

The U.S. Department of State hosted on May 7-8 the annual plenary of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. The Voluntary Principles Initiative, established in 2000, brings together governments, corporations, and non-governmental organizations to guide oil, gas and mining companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

This year's plenary adopted formal criteria intended to strengthen the Voluntary Principles by fostering greater accountability on the part of all participants and outlining clearly the responsibilities of all parties, paving the way for an expansion of the Voluntary Principles membership. New participants will be announced by the time of the next Plenary, which will be hosted by the Netherlands in 2008.

Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Barry F. Lowenkron, congratulated the participants noting that, "the adoption of clear performance-based criteria governing participation in the Voluntary Principles reinforces our shared commitment to ensuring that the security practices of the extractive industry contribute to the protection of human rights."

Participants List

Governments:
Netherlands
Norway
The United States of America
The United Kingdom

Corporations:
Anglo American
BG Group
BHP Billiton
BP
Chevron
ConocoPhillips
ExxonMobil
Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold
Hess Corporation
Marathon Oil
Newmont Mining Corporation
Norsk Hydro
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
Rio Tinto
Shell
Statoil

Non-Governmental Organizations:
Amnesty International
The Fund for Peace
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights First
International Alert
Pax Christi Netherlands
Oxfam

Observers:
International Committee of the Red Cross
International Council on Mining & Metals
International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association