The voluntary principles are Non-binding soft laws that offer guidance to companies in maintaining the safety and security of their operations while ensuring respect for human rights and humanitarian law.
The voluntary principles on security and human rights (VPs) were developed in 2000 by governments, companies in the extractive and energy sectors. The VPs initiative help companies develop human rights risk assessment policies and procedures that better anticipate situations in which human rights abuses are most likely to occur and translate the result of such assessment into on the ground strategies to mitigate human right risk. Companies on an ongoing basis should assess security risks and the potential for human rights abuses.