Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

The Voluntary Principles Initiative is a membership-based global multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to sharing best practices and mutually supporting the implementation of the Voluntary Principles. Members of the Initiative are organized into three pillars: corporate, government, and NGO. We also have a category of Observers, which are admitted if they meet certain criteria such as demonstrating relevant expertise in human rights or in the industries that are the focus of the Voluntary Principles. A Steering Committee, formed by participants of all three pillars, is responsible for the Initiative’s executive decisions. The Annual Plenary meeting, attended by all members, is the main decision-making body of the Voluntary Principles Initiative. The day-to-day administration of the Initiative is conducted by a Secretariat based in Ottawa, Canada. The Voluntary Principles Association, domiciled in the Netherlands, is the entity that addresses the financial and administrative needs of the initiative.