Human Rights and Business Roundtable

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


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



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


Participants: Past and Present

ABB, Inc.

AFL-CIO

Akin Gump

American University

Amnesty International


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


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.”


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.


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


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


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


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


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

E: [email protected]

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

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Human Rights and Business Roundtable