HUMAN RIGHTS AND BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE | THE FUND FOR PEACE Human Rights and Business Roundtable A Commitment to Dialogue by The Fund for Peace
Mar 31, 2016
HUMAN RIGHTS AND BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE | THE FUND FOR PEACE
Human Rights and Business Roundtable
A Commitment to Dialogue by The Fund for Peace
Copyright © 2011 The Fund for Peace This program description is proprietary to The Fund for Peace. All rights reserved. The Fund for Peace 1720 I Street NW 7th Floor Washington, D.C. 20006 T: +1 202 223 7940 F: +1 202 223 7947 www.fundforpeace.org The Fund for Peace Publication PD-11-14-HR (11-04C) Circulation: PUBLIC
Overview 4 Activities and Benefits 5 Current Participants 7 Past and Present Participants 8 What People Are Saying 9 Guidelines for Plenary Sessions 10 Joint Statement of Principles 11 Working Towards Sustainable Development, Sustainable Security 13 About The Fund for Peace 15
Contents
www.fundforpeace.org 3 The Failed States Index
solutions to problems in conflict zones in an
atmosphere of mutual respect, trust, and
confidentiality.
Today, the Roundtable focuses exclusively on the
extractive industry, although the lessons learned and
case studies of the Roundtable provide value to all
sectors. The Roundtable is an invaluable resource for
corporations and NGOs to work together to promote
sustainable development, the rule of law and open
societies.
How is the Roundtable Unique?
The Roundtable is…
Confidential
Now in its fourteenth year, the Roundtable
continues to successfully execute off-the-record
dialogues between human rights, business,
development, and legal experts.
Collaborative
The Roundtable’s agenda is set by and for the
participants. Our activities will constantly strive to
reflect the current interests of our participants.
The Roundtable is an invaluable resource for
corporations and NGOs to work together to
promote sustainable development.
Constructive
The Roundtable’s Joint Principles prohibits
“naming and shaming”, allowing our efforts to
focus on joint advocacy, education, and action.
This method builds the internal corporate social
responsibility capacity of each individual member
while providing the opportunity to make a
difference in the global community.
Cost-efficient
From high profile lawsuits to shareholder
resolutions, companies have recognized that the
cost of inaction is greater than the cost of action.
The Roundtable gives corporate members a
competitive edge by reducing liabilities,
strengthening relationships to stakeholders, and
enhancing brand image. Together, participants
also strategize on how to work collaboratively to
address challenges and risks associated with
operating in complex environments.
The Roundtable’s activities work to develop solutions
and anticipate future problems on such issues as
• Revenue Sharing
• Forced Displacement
• Corruption
• Indigenous Rights
• Security Threats
• Forced Labor
L aunched in 1997, the Human Rights and Business Roundtable brings
together multinational businesses, human rights organizations and other
stakeholders to discuss issues of common concern and explore possible
www.fundforpeace.org 4 The Fund for Peace
Human Rights and Business Roundtable
institutions together for education, problem solving,
and action. As stated in the Roundtable’s Joint
Statement of Principles, members enjoy an atmosphere
of mutual respect, trust and confidentiality. The agenda
is set by and for its members in order to address the
concrete issues faced by participating organizations.
Plenary sessions take place once every two months.
Topics for 2011 are currently being developed with
participants and will likely address stakeholder
engagement, Voluntary Principles on Security &
Human Rights training, building local capacity for
community foundations, project-level grievance
mechanisms, developing dialogues with public security
forces, and addressing challenges related to health in
isolated environments.
Sidebars
The Roundtable staff is always on call. We are
available to review policies and training materials,
discuss ideas, and help identify partners. Upon request,
special sessions may be convened on an ad-hoc basis to
solicit input from key stakeholders or to work through
a pressing issue confidentially. The experience,
expertise, and diverse perspectives of the Roundtable
help organizations work through the toughest
challenges presented by economic globalization. Each
corporate Roundtable member can request, at no
additional cost, one Sidebar per year. Additional
Sidebars can be requested for an additional fee.
Globalization & Human Rights Series
The Globalization & Human Rights Series covers issues
related to the effects of globalization that impact the
lives of human beings. Based on open-source research
but applicable to the themes of the Roundtable, it seeks
to inform a wider audience about the issues discussed
within the Roundtable plenaries and in other similar
fora. Currently in the series are papers on, “Economic
Reform in Weak States: When Good Governance Goes
Bad,” “The Effect of the Kimberley Process on
Governance, Corruption, & Internal Conflict,” and
“The Global Impact of State-Led Energy Pursuits by
China and India.” The series is available on our
website.
Off-Site Expert Sourcing
In addressing human right challenges, the Roundtable
has the resources and networks available to link its
members to the most relevant and credible experts.
The Roundtable’s experts help corporations better
resolve conflicts associated with post, current and
potential investments. Our expertise covers such issues
as governmental corruption, human rights training,
relationships to security forces, consultation and
compensation to indigenous communities, identifying
local and international partners, environmental
preservation, and revenue sharing schemes.
Replication of the Roundtable
M embers have unfettered access to Roundtable Plenary Meetings that
bring a wide network of companies, non-governmental
organizations, government representatives and international finance
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Activities and Benefits
The Roundtable has been replicated in Indonesia,
thanks to a partnership with the Public Health
Institute. Focusing on health, which the Fund for Peace
recognizes as an underlying condition of conflict, the
Health & Business Roundtable Indonesia is already
forging new partnership to help provide sustainable
health to workers and communities in rural areas of
Indonesia. The Roundtable currently has over 100
organizations as members. Meetings take place in
Jakarta once every three months, although we hope
that the number will increase as well as the ability to
have the Roundtable meetings in other locations
around Indonesia.
Based on this experience as well as our increased work
with local civil society on the ground, the Fund for
Peace is eager to explore opportunities to create full
Roundtables in other countries on specific issues, such
as health, which can help build local civil society,
relationships between them and the private sector, and
build trust and understanding, including with
government as appropriate.
Corporate Citizen Training
Roundtable membership helps educate corporations in
the behavior and benefits of being a good corporate
citizen. Roundtable membership allows corporations
and human rights groups to collaborate for
preventative action rather than clash on human rights
issues. The Roundtable can guide corporations on how
to better communicate and work with the NGO
community. The long-lasting partnerships fostered by
the Roundtable sustain the integrity and fiscal health of
corporations’ current and future investments while
promoting innovative approaches to sustainable
development.
Policy Drafting and Evaluation
The Roundtable works with its members in developing
internal and external policies that are consistent with
today’s expectations of a socially responsible
organization. The Roundtable can assist in drafting
human rights and other policies as well as in the
revision and evaluation of an organization’s existing
codes. The cooperative participation of human rights
groups in the development of corporate internal
policies and vice versa gives Roundtable members
greater capacity and credibility.
Activities and Benefits
www.fundforpeace.org 6 The Fund for Peace
www.fundforpeace.org 7 The Fund for Peace
American Petroleum Institute
Amnesty International
Barrick Gold Corporation
Center for Budget & Policy Priorities
Chevron
CHF International
Citizens for Global Solutions
Coalition for International Justice
ExxonMobil
Freeport-McMoran
Hess Corporation
Human Rights First
International Finance Corporation
Inmet Mining
International Labor Organization
Marathon Oil
National Democratic Institute
Newmont Mining
Pact, Inc.
Partners for Democratic Change
Partnership Africa Canada
International Stability Operations Association
Public Health Institute
Search for Common Ground
Shell Oil
Transparency International
U.S. Agency for International Development
U.S. Department of Defense
U.S. Department of State
World Bank
International Alert
Groupe OCP
Human Rights and Business Roundtable Current Participants
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Participants: Past and Present
ABB, Inc.
AFL-CIO
Akin Gump
American University
Amnesty International
American Petroleum Institute
Asia Foundation
Ashoka
Asia Society
Baruch College/CUNY
BHP Billiton
Boeing Company
BP
Brookings Institution
Business and Conflict Ltd.
Business for Social Responsibility
Carnegie Endowment for
International Peace
Carter Center
Catholic Relief Services
Center for Budget and Policy
Priorities
Chevron
Coalition for International Justice
Columbia University
Congressional Executive
Commission on China
ConocoPhillips
Council on Foreign Relations
Development Alternatives Inc.
Embassy of the Republic of Chad
Environmental Defense Fund
ExxonMobil
Fair Labor Association
First Peoples Worldwide
Foley Hoag LLP
Freedom House
Freeport McMoRan
George Washington University
Georgetown University Law Center
Global Alliance for Worker’s and
Communities
Global Witness
Harvard University
Hess Corporation
Human and Civil Rights
Organizations of America
Human Rights Watch
IFC
Inmet Mining
International Center for Corporate
Accountability
International Human Rights Law
Group
International Peace Academy
International Labor Rights Fund
Jacob Blaustein Institute
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg
School of Public Health
Lawyers Committee for Human
Rights
Mattel
Minnesota Advocates for Human
Rights
Missionary Oblates of Mary
Immaculate
Motorola
The National Academy of Sciences
Newmont Mining
Nike
Occidental Petroleum
Open Society Institute
Oxfam
Pact
Partners for Democratic Change
Phelps Dodge Corporation
Placer Dome
Political and Economic Link
Consulting
Proctor & Gamble
Public Health Institute
Publish What You Pay
Research and Policy Reform Center
Revenue Watch
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center
for Human Rights
Salomon Smith Barney
Shell Oil
Sisterhood is Global
Transparency International
Tufts University, Fletcher School of
Law and Diplomacy
University of Maryland
Unocal
United Nations Development
Program
US AID
United States Environmental
Protection Agency
Uplift International
US-China Business Council
U.S. State Department Bureau of
Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor
United States Institute of Peace
Wofford Consulting
World Bank
World Monitors
Archie W. Dunham
Chairman, President, and CEO
Conoco, Inc.
“The Roundtable provides an opportunity to get a
window into the decision-making process. We hear
about how business representatives struggle within
their own organizations to raise these kinds of issues;
where the various points of leverage and power are, as
well as the motivations behind working on these
issues. This information is valuable for both sides to
understand each other better.”
Elisa Massimino
President and CEO
Human Rights First
“The Fund for Peace Human Rights and Business
Roundtable is the only regular meeting place for
corporations, human rights organizations, and scholars
in the U.S.”
Andrés Peñate
Director of International and NGO Affairs
BP
“At this time there is a gap between government
abuses and human rights efforts to bridge this gap…
and the only way to cross that bridge is to bring in the
corporate community. I think your Roundtable has
tremendous potential.”
Jimmy Carter
Former President of the United States
“While we can meet with many of the Roundtable
participants individually -- and often do -- the unique
format of a trusted environment where ALL of the
parties come together under one roof for candid
exchanges is extremely valuable to this company. The
Roundtable's place in carefully balancing the views,
perspectives, and indeed, agendas of the various
players should not be underestimated or
undervalued.”
Stephen Burns
Manager, Corporate Responsibility
Chevron
“The Roundtable has been useful because it has
allowed the participants to set the agenda rather than
coming in with a strong agenda of its own.”
Mort Winston
Chair
Amnesty International USA
“By carefully crafting a structured series of
acquaintance meetings, the human rights and business
participants were able to get to know one another and
the values we hold important. After a series of these
initial plenary meetings, I learned that the issues we
explored together, such as the rule of law,
transparency, and freedom of information, were issues
upon which we could build a long-lasting
relationship”.
Genevieve Laffly-Murphy
Washington Representative
American Petroleum Institute
W e look forward to continuing to develop the relationships and trust
we have established through the Roundtable, and enthusiastically
encourage others to join this groundbreaking and useful forum.”
www.fundforpeace.org 9 The Fund for Peace
What People Are Saying
“
Members and guests of the Roundtable must be able to
speak openly, frankly and in confidence in order to
identify ways to work cooperatively together in the
future to address issues concerning human rights. To
make this possible, the Roundtable is guided by a few
ground rules.
The Roundtable is based on confidentiality. There is no
attribution to individuals or their organizations of what
was said. If we do issue a report, then only formal
presenters will be attributed and only with their
expressed permission.
Also, participants may have been invited because of
their position and affiliation, but during the
Roundtable views expressed by participants represent
only their personal views and do not reflect upon their
company or organization, unless otherwise stated by
the individual.
And everything discussed at the Roundtable is
voluntary – for example any proposals brought forth
here are not mandatory in any way. And, moreover,
any issue that is in litigation will not be discussed. No
party to litigation that involves the companies,
organizations and/or projects participate in
Roundtable Plenary Sessions that relate to such
litigation.
These guidelines will help us find ways to work
together in specific countries and projects, as well as in
general, to promote the rule of law and open societies.
T he overall goal of the Roundtable is to promote the rule of law and open
societies. To do this we have a common set of principles and have a
sustained dialogue over issues of common cause and common concern.
www.fundforpeace.org 10 The Fund for Peace
Guidelines for Plenary Sessions
1. The participants from both the business
community and the human rights community
commit themselves to work together to promote
global respect for and observance of the rights and
freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights.
2. There is a shared recognition that the goals of the
human rights community -- to secure respect for
human rights and to achieve sustainable
development -- and the goals of the business
community – to maximize shareholder returns and
improve the quality of life through the free market
mechanism – can be complementary and can be
mutually supportive. The protection of human
rights contributes to political stability and reduces
the risk of social unrest, conditions which are
essential to a favorable investment climate. By the
same token, thriving markets are a precondition
for the creation of jobs and improvement of living
standards, and can contribute to an environment
which is conducive to improved social and
political conditions.
3. The participants from both the business
community and the human rights community
commit themselves to the promotion of the Rule of
Law -- a system of laws applied by an independent
judiciary in a non-arbitrary and non-
discriminatory manner consistent with
international norms and standards. From the
perspective of the business community, the Rule of
Law is essential to the protection of property, the
enforcement of contracts, the elimination of
corruption and the maintenance of a stable and
productive work force. From the standpoint of the
human rights community, the Rule of Law is the
very foundation upon which the protection of all
human rights rests.
4. The participants from the two communities also
commit themselves to the promotion of open
societies worldwide and to free access by all
members of the world community to one another,
conditions under which the goals of each
community are most likely to be advanced.
5. The two communities recognize the growing
economic interdependence among nations. This
interdependence underscores the critical
importance of providing an appropriate level of
resources and authority to the United Nations and
other multilateral institutions which play a central
role in advancing human rights. Likewise, the role
of these institutions in promoting peace and
development contributes importantly to a
favorable investment climate. These relationships
were recently recognized in the Joint Statement on
Common Interests by the Secretary-General of the
United Nations and International Chamber of
Commerce:
“Efforts by the international community to
promote appropriate policies and good governance,
to strengthen institutions and infrastructures, to
eradicate poverty and to develop human resources
www.fundforpeace.org 11 The Fund for Peace
Joint Statement of Principles
are critical to the creation of a business-friendly
environment … Business is well aware that it
must be a responsible partner in the social order in
which it operates.”
6. The participants from the corporate community
and the participants from the human rights
community commit themselves to the continuance
of dialogue, to the continued search for common
interests, to work together to advance those goals
and principles which are the subject of this Joint
Statement and to work to explore the possibilities
for development of a mutually supportive
relationship. Each recognizes that such a
relationship will require a better understanding of
the other community and is likely to require
changes in behavior and in tactics.
(a) The participants from the human rights
community recognize that cooperation with
industry can be an effective means to address
areas of common concern. The participants
from the human rights community also
recognize that there are often limits to a
corporation’s ability to exert political and
social influence and on their authority to do
so; and that corporate management has a
fiduciary obligation to its shareholders to seek
to earn a fair profit. Going forward, the
participants from the human rights
community commit themselves:
(i) To make themselves available to
representatives of the business
community for dialogue in respect of the
human rights dimensions of their
investments – both actual and potential;
and
(ii) To make information available to
representatives of the business
community to facilitate informed decision
making where human r ights
considerations are present subject to
considerations of confidentiality and the
necessity of protecting sensitive sources.
(b) By the same token, the participants from the
corporate community recognize that there are
fundamental international human rights
standards to which their companies must
adhere to be good international corporate
citizens. They are:
(i) To avoid complicity in governmental
human rights abuses in the countries in
which they operate.
(ii) To uphold and respect human rights in
the corporation’s own practices and
sphere of influence. This includes
avoidance of the use of child or forced
labor; promotion of equal opportunity for
employees at all levels without regard to
color, race, gender, age, ethnicity, religion
or national origin; respect for employee
freedom of association and right to
collective bargaining; and provision of a
safe and healthy workplace.
(iii) To make measurable progress toward the
goal of a wage level for all workers which
will provide them and their families with
basic human needs.
(iv) To develop explicit company policies and
procedures to ensure that security
arrangements do not contravene
international human rights standards.
(v) To actively engage with the leadership
and voluntary organizations of the
communities in which they operate
regarding the impact or potential impact
of company operations on the enjoyment
of universal human rights; and to use
their influence with host governments to
cause the local community to share
appropriately in the benefits realized by
the host government from company
operations.
(vi) To afford transparency with respect to
compliance with these standards.
Adopted April, 2001
Joint Statement of Principles
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economies beyond d i rec t employment
opportunities. When operating in tense social and
political environments, however, companies can easily
be seen as part of the problem instead of part of the
solution. To operate effectively in areas lacking strong
government institutions and a respect for the rule of
law, companies need partners.
We have spent more than a decade analyzing the best
practices and lessons learned from companies and their
partners through their efforts to increase a company’s
ability to operate with the highest standards despite
local obstacles.
Combining that experience, our extensive global
networks, and proprietary software based on our
conflict assessment framework (CAST), FfP has
developed a suite of tools to help companies operate in
the most sensitive environments. Our tools can assist
companies to navigate through complex situations. By
turning challenges into opportunities, companies can
become known as a good neighbor in the communities
where they operate and a preferred investor or
supplier.
FfP frequently supports companies in their
development of the following activities:
• Human Rights & Security Polices
• Conflict and Human Rights Assessments
• Community Relations and Stakeholder
Engagement
• Monitoring and Reporting Mechanisms
T he Fund for Peace has long recognized that companies are an essential
part of creating sustainable societies. Companies provide infrastructure
development beyond their immediate operations and support local
www.fundforpeace.org 13 The Fund for Peace
Working Towards Sustainable Development,
Sustainable Security
There is no better protection for business and
communities than a strong relationship.
The work of The Fund for Peace places a heavy
emphasis on implementation. We aim to not only
pursue policy research and dialogue, but to also follow
through with implementation in the field.
Voluntary Principles on Security
and Human Rights
Initially conceived at a Fund for Peace Human Rights
& Business Roundtable meeting, the Fund for Peace is
an active participant in the Voluntary Principles on
Security & Human Rights. The Fund for Peace is proud
to be serving on the Steering Committee of the
Voluntary Principles for the 2011-12 term.
Through partnerships, we support Voluntary
Principles implementation by companies. Working
with both oil/gas and mining companies, we have
helped draft human rights policies, created assessment
capabilities related to security and human rights,
undertaken conflict and human rights assessments, and
developed human rights and Voluntary Principles
training materials.
In Indonesia, working with local institutions we have
helped develop one of the most active national
working groups to encourage adoption of the
Voluntary Principles in Indonesia by companies and
the Indonesian government.
In 2010, we produced with our partner, International
Alert, a Guidance Note on Implementation of the VPs
at the National Level, which is being applied in
Indonesia, Iraq and D.R. Congo.
Health and Business Roundtable
With our partner Public Health Institute, we have
replicated the Roundtable model in Indonesia to
support partnership development to increase
availability of resources to improve health. Over 80
companies and NGOs have joined the Roundtable in
Indonesia.
Private Security and Human Rights
Private contractors are an important component of
various governments’ defense and foreign affairs
strategies. But the behavior of private security
personnel can also negatively affect local communities,
undermine nation-building and thus national security
goals. It is therefore important that a mechanism exists
for contractors to be properly accountable and
overseen.
The purpose of the Private Security and Human Rights
program is to promote better oversight and
accountability of private security contractors in
contingency operations. By engaging with government,
NGOs, the private sector, and local communities, the
program seeks to better facilitate understanding of and
adherence to the International Code of Conduct for
Private Security among all stakeholders.
Working Towards Sustainable Development, Sustainable Security
www.fundforpeace.org 14 The Fund for Peace
About The Fund for Peace
T he Fund for Peace is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit
research and educational organization that works to prevent violent
conflict and promote sustainable security.
www.fundforpeace.org 15 The Failed States Index
Conflict Early Warning and Assessment
Transnational Threats
Sustainable Development, Sustainable Security
We promote sustainable security through research,
training and education, engagement of civil society,
building bridges across diverse sectors, and developing
innovative technologies and tools for policy makers.
A leader in the conflict assessment and early warning
field, the Fund for Peace focuses on the problems of
weak and failing states. Our objective is to create
practical tools and approaches for conflict mitigation
that are useful to decision-makers.
The Fund for Peace adopts a holistic approach to the
issues stemming from weak and failing states. We
work at both the grassroots level with civil society
actors and at policy levels with key decision makers.
We have worked in over 50 countries with a wide
range of partners in all sectors: governments, interna-
tional organizations, the military, nongovernmental
organizations, academics, journalists, civil society
networks, and the private sector.
The Fund for Peace offers a wide range of initiatives
focused on our central objective of promoting sustain-
able security, the ability of a state to solve its own
problems peacefully without an external military or
administrative presence. Our programs fall into three
primary thematic areas: Conflict Early Warning and
Assessment; Transnational Threats; and Sustainable
Development, Sustainable Security.
Krista Hendry EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
T: +1 202 223 7947 ext. 212
J. J. Messner SENIOR ASSOCIATE
T: +1 202 223 7947 ext. 206
Contact Us for More Information about The Fund for Peace or the Roundtable
Joelle Burbank ASSOCIATE
T: +1 202 223 7947 ext. 209
PD-11-14-HR
www.fundforpeace.org