Economic interests and human rights can be mutually reinforcing

The idea behind the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights', launched in 2000, was to work towards a dialogue between the authorities, the private sector and civil society.

By adhering to the principles voluntarily, companies that often operate in complex or even fragile environments have a set of guidelines to identify the risks they are exposed to, for example when working with state law enforcement agencies or private security companies, which protect their activities. This enables them to take steps to prevent human rights abuses or to avoid exacerbating certain conflicts.

The Voluntary Principles are a valuable tool that supports countries to meet their obligations and ensure that human rights are respected. The NGOs contribute with their expertise on specific issues or on the challenges facing society, while being closely involved in developing constructive solutions.

Platforms have already been created in Peru, Ghana, Nigeria and Myanmar. They include companies and representatives from governments and local NGOs. Similar contact groups will also be set up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Colombia and Indonesia.

A platform has been in place in Ghana since 2017 encouraging better coordination between the oil and gas companies and coastal communities in the Gulf of Guinea. In Nigeria, security forces running operations in the Niger Delta have been trained to operate within a framework which is respectful of human rights.

Switzerland supports this pragmatic approach, which helps to promote best practice and identify solutions in the field that address the local challenges. Switzerland joined the Voluntary Principles initiative in 2011. The principles are in line with the country's policy, which is broadly based on the belief that there is common ground to be found between economic interests and a respect for human rights.

At an institutional level, the Federal Council's National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights 2020–23 and its Foreign Policy Strategy 2020–23 provide a framework for responsible corporate behaviour in the area of human rights, both in Switzerland and abroad. These documents build on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Switzerland plays a major active role in several multi-stakeholder initiatives, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC) and the Voluntary Principles. On the initiative’s twentieth anniversary in 2020, Switzerland assumed the role of chair of the Voluntary Principles for the second time.

Accordingly, it has taken concrete steps, through the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), to contact companies in the relevant sectors who have headquarters in Switzerland, as well as the authorities in countries where the raw materials are being extracted, to encourage these companies and governments to join the Voluntary Principles.

Switzerland also endeavours, through its bilateral and multilateral contacts, to foster dialogue between the private sector, the authorities and civil society on best practice in security and human rights.

During its role as chair in 2019–20, Switzerland focused on implementing the Voluntary Principles initiative in the field and expanding it to new members.

The country succeeded in opening the initiative to a new sector with the addition of an agribusiness company. The first Chinese company also joined. In terms of governments, after Ghana’s membership, the DRC applied to join. This is a positive development as commitment from producer countries is key to strengthening the impact on the ground and involving national institutions.

Focusing its strategy on countries such as the DRC, Nigeria or China, which would benefit most from implementing the Voluntary Principles, Switzerland has invested in targeted projects, including police training and promoting a dialogue between civil society, companies and the authorities. It has also strengthened task forces, particularly in the DRC, to enhance the impact of the Voluntary Principles in French-speaking Africa.

It has worked with its partners to facilitate the signing of an agreement with the China Chamber of Commerce. The aim is to develop tools tailored to the Chinese context. Given the size of China’s global investments, Switzerland believes it is of paramount importance to involve this partner if it is to promote the universal implementation of its own conviction that economic interests and human rights are compatible and can in fact be mutually reinforcing.