Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC May 9, 2007
Corporate Social Responsibility: Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Plenary Adopts Formal Participation CriteriaThe 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
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Released on May 9, 2007
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