NGO and corporate members of the Voluntary Principles Initiative urge for respect of human rights in public security organizations

July 7, 2020

On 7 July 2020, corporate and NGO members of the Voluntary Principles Initiative released a Joint Statement on Policing and Respect for Human Rights. Following weeks of demonstrations around the world condemning police brutality and systemic racism present in public security institutions, the Joint Statement highlights the importance of improving the human rights performance of public and private security organizations.

The Joint Statement outlines relevant Principles and best practices, including

• Conducting periodic risk assessments regarding the potential for violence and risks of human rights abuses allows police and other security providers to better understand the situations and populations for which risks are highest;

• Security practices must consider the unique human rights risks facing ethnic and racial minorities, women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, human rights defenders, and other vulnerable groups, and respond accordingly;

• Effective community engagement, including with women and vulnerable groups, is critical both to understanding risks and working collaboratively to mitigate them;

• Vetting individual security providers on their human rights record is essential to ensuring a professional force which can gain the trust of the community. Individuals credibly implicated in human rights violations should not be employed;

• Professional and regular training and education for public security providers is essential and should involve civil society organizations. Training should include de-escalation techniques, human rights compliance, use of force only when necessary and to the extent proportional to the threat and as a last resort only; and

• After human rights violations have occurred, any perpetrators of human rights violations must be held accountable. Anyone with reliable evidence should report a violation.

The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights are an internationally recognized set of principles that guide companies on how to conduct their security operations while ensuring respect for human rights. The Voluntary Principles were created in 2000 when companies, governments, and NGOs committed to work together to address security-related human rights abuses and violations in the extractive sector.

Today, the Voluntary Principles help companies in various industries conduct a conflict analysis, identify and understand the security and human rights risks in the environment in which they operate, and take meaningful steps to address these risks. To promote implementation of the Principles, the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) was created. The Initiative is comprised of over 50 members including companies, governments, and nongovernmental organizations that share best practices and mutually support the implementation of the Principles.

Read the full statement HERE