Canada and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative
The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative (VPI) helps companies, governments and civil society organizations anticipate and mitigate human rights risks related to the deployment of public and private security forces around industrial natural resource sites. Canada has participated in the VPI since 2009.
Canada’s role in the VPI contributes to strengthening the rules-based international order through the promotion of human rights, the mitigation of risks of conflict and the fostering of accountability, cooperation and mutual understanding.
The VPI contributes to the Feminist International Assistance Policy’s Peace and Security and Inclusive Governance Action Areas by supporting efforts to reduce sexual and gender-based violence in developing countries through the active participation of women in local working groups and the promotion of gender-sensitive security training. Canada’s contributions aim to integrate gender perspectives into the peace and security efforts of all VPI members with activities in fragile and conflict-affected states.
Tackling sexual and gender-based violence in the VPI
Canada is funding a project in partnership with the VPI to carry out a gender-based analysis of the initiative to identify gaps and opportunities for gender-responsive implementation of the Voluntary Principles (VP).
The project aims to:
- establish gender-sensitive and gender-inclusive policies within the work streams of the VPI
- promote women’s participation in the VP’s in-country working groups
- develop tools to respond to human rights threats specific to women, human rights defenders and vulnerable groups, including sexual and gender-based violence
Canada’s priorities
In its current role as Chair of the Voluntary Principles Initiative, Canada’s priorities include:
- Supporting a gender gap analysis of the initiative to identify ways the VPs can improve equality and human rights for women, girls and marginalized groups
- Developing guidance to improve VP members’ engagement with human rights defenders
- Finalizing a VP 101 guidance document to support VPs implementation by smaller organizations
- Promoting VPs implementation in Canada, such as supporting in-country working groups
Previously, Canada chaired the Initiative from 2011 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2017. Canada’s previous role as chair has resulted in positive outcomes, such as the Child Rights and Security Checklist co-developed with UNICEF, which helps companies and governments improve their security frameworks’ respect for children’s rights.
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