The “Addressing Security and Human Rights Challenges in Complex Environments” Toolkit has been developed by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The Toolkit is part of a joint DCAF-ICRC project that draws on the experience of the two organisations in order to support companies and other actors facing security and human rights challenges in complex environments.
While the Toolkit and the Knowledge Hub are intended to have a wide application beyond the extractives sector, they were developed to reflect the commitment of both organisations as official Observers to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs). The DCAF-ICRC project is supported by the Human Security Division of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
Who is this Toolkit for?
- The primary audience for this Toolkit is any kind of company facing security and human rights challenges in complex environments. The Toolkit will be useful for company staff working in a wide range of functions, in particular those dealing with security, government relations, business and human rights, corporate social responsibility, community relations, and legal issues.
- Despite being mainly targeted at companies, many of the recommendations included in this Toolkit promote collaboration, particularly between companies, governments and CSOs.
What is inside this Toolkit?
The Toolkit has the form of an overall guidance document divided into four chapters.
- Chapter 1, “Working with host governments”, provides guidance for companies on ways of engaging with the host government to address security and human rights issues.
- Chapter 2, “Working with public security forces”, provides guidance for companies facing challenges related to public security arrangements around their area of operations.
- Chapter 3, “Working with private security providers”, provides guidance for companies contracting private security companies in complex environments.
- Chapter 4, “Working with communities”, provides guidance for companies on how to manage relations with local communities around their area of operations
You can download this free toolkit from here.
