CSR Institute Panel: Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

In jurisdictions where government implementation of the rule of law (including their duty to protect human rights) is less than optimal, businesses face significant challenges.  This situation is particularly acute for extractive sector firms, that are often operating in outlying regions of developing and conflict-affected countries where there is extreme poverty, minimal infrastructure, and the presence of the mine even when meeting legal requirements may be contested by members of the local community. In recognition of these challenging operating conditions, certain governments, private sector firms and members of civil society came together in 2000 to develop the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (Voluntary Principles or VPs).  The VPs are principles to guide firms on providing security for their operations in a manner that respects human rights. Specifically, the VPs guide companies in conducting comprehensive human rights risk assessments for their operations, and in their engagement with public and private security providers to ensure that human rights are respected in the protection of company facilities and premises. The VPs are overseen by a multi-stakeholder organization, the Voluntary Principles Initiative, composed of corporate, government and civil society members. The Canadian government, Canadian extractive firms and Canadian-based NGOs have all played important roles in the development and/or implementation of the VPs.

The purpose of this session is to explore the VPs from diverse perspectives: government, the private sector (individual firm and industry association level), and civil society.

This event is co-sponsored by the Ryerson CSR Student Association, the Ryerson Commerce and Government Association, and the Ryerson Law and Business Student Association. This event is supported by the Trade Commissioner Service of Global Affairs Canada.

David Clarry (representing the Mining Association of Canada, which in May 2017, announced a membership commitment to implement the VPs) - David is the Vice President of CSR at HudBay Minerals, Inc. From 2009 - 2011, David worked through his own firm, Innotain Inc., providing extractive sector consulting services. Prior to that, he spent 18 years with Hatch Ltd.

Kevin D'Souza (representing Centerra Gold) - Kevin is the Vice President of Security, Sustainability & Environment for Centerra Gold. He has worked his entire career in the mining industry having begun as an operational mining engineer in West Africa. He has over 25 years of experience gained from a variety of operational, managerial and leadership roles that range from remote exploration camps, mine construction sites, operational mines and closure sites, to Corporate and Ministerial offices, working for mining companies, major NGOs, and International Funding Institutions. 

Kady Seguin (representing IMPACT) - Kady is a Senior Policy Advisor at IMPACT (formerly known as Partnership Africa Canada). IMPACT is a member of the VPs. She is IMPACT’s primary liaison with downstream market actors in the mineral sector, engaging with private sector actors to encourage responsible sourcing and due diligence efforts. Kady also leads IMPACT’s engagement in a variety of multi-stakeholder forums aimed at improving natural resource governance. 

Fanie V. Thibeault (representing Global Affairs Canada) - Fanie joined the Natural Resources and Governance division of Global Affairs Canada in 2016 as a policy analyst. She assumed the coordination of Canada’s chairmanship of the VPs and continues to be actively engaged in the Initiative. She previously worked for Canada’s Office of the CSR Counsellor, in the CSR Unit of Global Affairs Canada, at the Embassy of Canada in Ecuador, for the Peruvian Institute of Mining Engineers and with Partnership Africa Canada. She has been involved in various non-profit, academic and private sector activities in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Mexico and Democratic Republic of Congo.