The Principles provide a framework within which companies in the extractive sector can ensure the legitimate security of their employees and assets without adversely affecting the human rights of people living in communities close to company operations. The Principles provide guidance on best practice in conducting security risk assessments involving a range of stakeholders, on the governance of relationships with public security providers (army, police, public militia etc); and for the selection, training and accountabilities of private security providers. The Principles do not only have relevance in situations of traditional overt conflict but may also have application in the handling of volatile industrial relations situations or of disputes with local community groups.
From 2005, Anglo American has conducted training events for staff in all its major geographies on the application of the Principles and compliance is monitored through a prescribed system of internal reporting and an annual Letters of Assurance process. The Voluntary Principles were launched in late 2000 and the multistakeholder process was initially convened by the Governments of the United States and the United Kingdom. They have, more recently, been joined by the Governments of Norway and the Netherlands. Participating NGOs include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Pax Christi. Most of the leading mining and oil and gas companies are also involved. The initiative is supported by a Secretariat jointly provided by Business for Social Responsibility and the International Business Leaders Forum.
Anglo American reports in its annual 'Report to Society' on major issues arising from its implementation of the Principles as well as providing confidential feedback to other members of the roundtable process. At the meeting of G20 Ministers in 2006, Anglo American's Chairman, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart urged developing country governments to become more involved in the process as a means of promoting good practice. In terms of its own implementation, in 2006 Anglo American Chile provided human rights training to 95 contractor security providers and in Venezuela Anglo's Loma de Niquel mine retained the services of a local NGO to help to increase the awareness of the Voluntary Principles on the part of local police and security personnel. Cerrejon Coal in Colombia (one third owned and not managed by Anglo American) has been amongst the most active operations in promoting the framework including through providing training on the Principles for over 2,000 security personnel. In South Africa, Anglo Platinum briefed or trained over 1,000 security employees and almost 300 security contractors – 88% and 54% of the totals respectively. In addition in 2006, Anglo Coal South Africa issued a new code of conduct for security personnel which is based on the Principles and Scaw Metals and Kumba Iron Ore all carried out reviews of their security arrangements with contracted-out security providers.
