[wanabidii] Press Releases: The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative Welcomes Ghana

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Press Releases: The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative Welcomes Ghana 04/03/2014 04:09 PM EDT The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights Initiative Welcomes Ghana Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC April 3, 2014 On March 26 – 27, 2014, the Government of Switzerland hosted the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs) Initiative Annual Plenary Meeting in Montreux, Switzerland. The initiative is a collaborative effort by governments, major multinational extractive companies, and NGOs to provide guidance to companies on tangible steps that they can take to minimize the risk of human rights abuses in communities located near extraction sites. During the meeting, the government of Ghana announced that it would join the VPs Initiative, becoming the first African government participant. Government participation in the VPs Initiative signals an important commitment to human rights and to supporting a positive business environment for extractive companies. The VPs Initiative also welcomed companies Repsol, PanAust, IAMGold, and NGO LITE-Africa as new members, as well as the Institute for Human Rights and Business, as an observer. Several companies also discussed challenges and best practices related to implementation and verification of their performance under the VPs. These discussions helped to demonstrate how companies work to adhere to their commitments in some of the toughest places in the world, spurring discussion about how participants can work collaboratively to support these efforts. The United States’ active participation in the VPs Initiative is an example of this Administration’s practical approach to working in partnership with corporations, other governments, and civil society groups to address human rights problems that cannot be solved by governments alone. For further information, please contact Jenny Stein at steinjl@state.gov or visit www.voluntaryprinciples.org. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:   External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.  Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State. This email was sent to wanabidii@googlegroups.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520

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