Chile Working Group · Voluntary Principles Global Network · Since 2024
We continuously improve the promotion and respect of human rights in the context of security practices in the natural resources and energy sectors in Chile, with a strongly preventive mandate.
Since its inauguration in September 2024, the Chile Working Group brings together ~30 organizations from the mining and hydrocarbon sectors, the State, and civil society, totaling 51 associated members with 54.9% female participation and four observer embassies (United Kingdom, USA, Switzerland and Australia).
The Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR) are an international framework that guides natural resources and energy companies to maintain operational security while respecting human rights, in dialogue with communities, government and civil society.
Developed in 2000 by governments, companies and NGOs from the United States and United Kingdom, the VPs establish guidance for risk assessment, engagement with public security forces, and standards for private security. Today they are a globally recognized standard addressing human rights risks in security operations.
In Chile, Law No. 21,659 on Private Security (in force since November 2025) incorporates in its Article 4 No. 5 the explicit obligation to respect human rights in private security, aligning the national normative framework with the Voluntary Principles.
Companies identify and assess human rights risks associated with their security operations before they occur.
Guidance on responsible engagement with police and armed forces in the operational environment.
Standards for hiring, training and supervising private guards in alignment with human rights.
Origin and Mission
The Chile Working Group was born from joint work between the VPI Global Secretariat, the UC Sustainability Program and Chilean ecosystem actors linked to security and human rights.
Jul 2023
Stakeholder mapping in Chile commissioned by VPI Global to the UC Sustainability Program.
Sep 2024
Working Group Chile inaugurated.
Jun 2025
Fundación Empresas Indígenas takes over as Executive Secretariat.
Mar 2026
First in-person plenary session in Santiago.
Mission
Continuously improve the promotion and respect of human rights in the context of security practices in the natural resources and energy sectors in Chile, with a strongly preventive mandate.
The initiative actors
The Voluntary Principles are built on tripartite dialogue: natural resources and energy companies, State institutions, and civil society alongside Indigenous peoples. The Chile Working Group brings these three actors together on equal terms to ensure legitimate and balanced implementation.
Natural resources and energy companies — mining, oil and gas, renewable energy and large-scale agriculture — that have adopted the Voluntary Principles or are interested in security and human rights.
Anglo American · Antofagasta Minerals · Barrick Gold · BHP · Codelco · Glencore · Kinross · Lundin Mining · Minera El Abra · Minera Lomas Bayas · Pan American Silver · Rio Tinto · TotalEnergies
Public institutions linked to security and human rights. They participate as observers.
Division of Dialogue and Social Participation — Ministry of Mining · Carabineros, Human Rights Directorate · Undersecretariat of Human Rights — Ministry of Justice and Human Rights · Human Rights Division — Ministry of Foreign Affairs · National Contact Point Representative — SUBREI
NGOs, academic centers and organizations with an interest in security and human rights, including organizations representing Indigenous peoples.
Acción Empresas · Centro Vincular · Human Rights Department — University of Chile · Sustainability Program — UC · Fundación Emerge Chile · Fundación Empresas Indígenas
International observers
Embassies of United Kingdom, United States, Switzerland and Australia in Chile accompany the Working Group as permanent observers.
Working Group Objectives
Position the Working Group as a safe space for continuous learning, multi-stakeholder collaboration and advocacy to promote VP implementation in Chile.
Promote the exchange of best practices, experiences and security and human rights tools among members.
Strengthen collaboration between companies, the State, international bodies, civil society, academia and Indigenous peoples.
Develop documents, instruments and tools that allow members to implement the VPs in a practical way.
Drive a public advocacy agenda, showcasing best practices and positioning the VPs as a regional reference.
Working Group Platform
This platform brings together in one place the information, tools and dialogue spaces that the Chile Working Group needs to advance Voluntary Principles implementation.
Minutes, tools and diagnostics of the Chile Working Group and the global network, with search by type, language and thematic axis.
Ordinary plenary sessions, technical visits, meetings with the global network and events relevant to the group agenda.
Contacts by pillar — companies, government, civil society and Indigenous peoples — to facilitate coordination between actors.
Permanently updated news feed on Voluntary Principles, human rights and security in the natural resources and energy sectors in Chile and globally.
In-Country Working Groups
The Voluntary Principles are implemented at the national level through In-Country Working Groups (ICWGs), tripartite dialogue spaces where companies, governments and civil society collaborate to improve security and human rights practices in the natural resources and energy sectors of each territory.
Each group is coordinated by a secretariat organization that articulates local actors. The network currently has 8 active groups across the Americas and Africa — four full groups (Brazil, Chile, Ghana, Nigeria) and four partner groups (Colombia, DR Congo, Mozambique, Peru). Chile is the most recent, inaugurated in 2024 (Myanmar has been suspended since 2021).
Our groupFull group
Secretariat
Fundación Empresas Indígenas
Sector: Mining and hydrocarbons
Inaugurated in September 2024 following a stakeholder mapping commissioned by VPI Global to the UC Sustainability Program. Brings together ~30 organizations with observers from the United Kingdom, USA, Switzerland and Australia.
View group
Full group
Secretariat
Fórum Brasileiro de Segurança Pública
Sector: Mining, oil, gas and energy
Brings together actors from the mining and energy sectors interested in improving VP implementation in the country. Works on training, risk mapping and improving relations between companies and public security forces.
View group
Full group
Secretariat
The Fund For Peace
Sector: Large-scale mining, oil, gas, artisanal mining
Quarterly coordination space among government officials, private sector and NGOs. African reference that shares best practices and supports VP implementation in the natural resources sector.
View group
Full group
Secretariat
LITE-Africa — Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment
Sector: Oil, gas and mining
Coordinated by LITE-Africa in the Niger Delta. Promotes VP implementation through advocacy, stakeholder engagement, awareness campaigns and training for security forces and government agencies. It runs Regional Working Groups in the north and south of the country.
View group
Partner group
Secretariat
CME — Mining and Energy Security and Human Rights Committee
Sector: Mining, energy and oil
The oldest group in the network. Multi-stakeholder initiative focused on dialogue and collaboration between companies, government, civil society, academia and international organizations. Formalized as a non-profit association in 2015.
View group
Partner group
Secretariat
JUSTICIA Asbl · Observatoire Gouvernance et Paix
Sector: Cobalt, gold and critical mining
Operating in Haut-Katanga, Lualaba, Kongo Central and South Kivu. Promote supply chains free of insecurity and human rights violations through cooperation between civil society, companies and the State.
View group
Partner group
Secretariat
CDD — Centre for Democracy and Human Rights
Sector: Extractive industries
Multi-stakeholder initiative seeking to improve identification of security and human rights risks in multinational company operations in Mozambique.
View group
Partner group
Secretariat
Centro Guamán Poma de Ayala
Sector: Small-scale and artisanal mining
Multi-stakeholder cooperation space focused on small-scale mining. Promotes a culture of dialogue in conflict management with an inclusive approach and commitment to sustainable regional development.
View group
Partner group
Secretariat
DESCO — Centro de Estudios y Promoción del Desarrollo
Sector: Copper, silver, gold, iron, zinc, oil and gas
Multi-stakeholder space made up of state, business and civil society actors. Established in a context of growing social conflict to disseminate and implement the Voluntary Principles.
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SuspendedSuspended group
Secretariat
MCRB — Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business
Sector: Oil, gas and mining
Multi-stakeholder organization that coordinated the group facilitating dialogue between government, companies and civil society. Suspended since 2021 following the military coup; kept as a historical reference of the network.
View groupExecutive Secretariat of the Chile Working Group
Since June 2025, the Executive Secretariat of the Chile Working Group is held by Fundación Empresas Indígenas, a non-profit organization headquartered in Temuco, Chile.
The Foundation builds bridges between Indigenous peoples and responsible companies in Chile and Latin America, contributing to Indigenous economic autonomy, inclusion, sustainability and reconciliation.
In its role as Secretariat, it facilitates the work of the Working Group and committees, coordinates quarterly plenary sessions, manages communications (LinkedIn, Instagram, monthly newsletter), articulates the relationship with VPI Global and prepares semiannual reports.
Executive Committee
Organizes plenary sessions, coordinates the agenda and liaises with the Secretariat.
Multi-stakeholder Engagement Committee
Convenes and engages with external actors. Coordinates field visits and dialogues.
Public Library
Foundational documents, implementation tools and best-practice guides of the Voluntary Principles, available for direct download.
Foundational document2000The founding document. Established in 2000 through dialogue between governments, companies and NGOs. Guides companies to maintain operational security while respecting human rights.
Tool2012100-page practical guide organized in four modules: stakeholder engagement, risk assessment, public security providers, private security providers. Co-created with ICMM, ICRC, IFC and IPIECA.
Quick guide2022Practical implementation guide that helps companies and security professionals establish programs aligned with human rights, identifying and managing risks that could affect stakeholders and operations.
Access the internal panel to view news, working documents, tools, minutes and the session calendar of the Chile Working Group.
Sign in with your email →The VPSHR are a global framework for the natural resources and energy sectors. If you represent a company, community or institution, you can learn more about how to participate.
Contact the Executive Secretariat →
