2025 Annual Plenary: A Global Gathering on  Security and Human Rights

April 2, 2025 •

The 2025 Annual Plenary Meeting of the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) took place in London, United Kingdom from March 18 to 21, offering four days of multi-stakeholder discussions, peer learning opportunities, and a safe space for attendees to have open and candid dialogue about security and human rights.

Nearly 140 representatives from companies, NGOs, civil society, and governments from across 27 countries convened to engage in workshops, roundtable presentations, panel sessions, and breakout discussions. This year’s Plenary featured a full program that brought to the table a multitude of important topics: operational grievance mechanisms (OGMs), engagement with public security forces, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), and heightened human rights due diligence in high-risk contexts, to name several.

Against the backdrop of the 25th anniversary of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR), the event underscored the enduring power of multi-stakeholder cooperation in translating principles into practice.

VPI Welcomes New Members

As part of the agenda, new Full and Engaged Members were voted in by VPI Members and were officially accepted to the Initiative. We are proud to welcome the following new Members:

Full Corporate Member 

• Endeavour Mining  

Full NGO Member  

• FOCONE 

Engaged Members  

• OMV (Corporate) 
• Jamaa Resource Initiatives (NGO) 
• Justicia ASBL (NGO) 

To become Full Members, Engaged Members must fulfill certain requirements, which includes demonstrating their efforts to implement, or support the implementation of, the VPSHR. 

United Kingdom Assumes Role of VPI Chair

At the Plenary, the Government of the United Kingdom took the baton of VPI Chair from the Government of the United States. We would like to thank the Government of the US for its dedication during its past two terms, and we warmly welcome the United Kingdom as the new Chair.

Toasting to 25 Years of the Voluntary Principles 
 
In the evening of March 21, a reception was held after the Plenary sessions to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR), starting with a toast by the US Government Chair. Attending founders of the Principles – Creon Butler (formerly with the Government of the UK), Bennett Freeman (formerly with the Government of the US), and David Rice (formerly with bp) – each delivered short, touching remarks, reflecting the inception of the VPSHR and emphasizing on the Initiative’s ever-growing importance.   
 
The VPI began in 2000 with only a small number of Members. Today, the Initiative has grown into a global leader in security and human rights, with more than 75 Member companies, NGOs, governments, and Observer organizations from around the world. It is thanks to the collective efforts of Members and Observers, past and present alike, that the VPI remains relevant and impactful throughout the years. 
 
We would like to extend a special thank you to VPI Member Rio Tinto for their generous sponsorship of this reception. 

The Plenary featured roundtable presentations by VPI and partner In-Country Working Groups (ICWGs) on their activities in Brazil, Colombia, DRC, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Peru