ABSTRACT
The Voluntary Principles represent an unprecedented step in the field of corporate responsibility. Convened by the US and UK governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), companies and a trade union reached a consensus on principles in the difficult area of human rights and security for the extractive sector (i.e. mining and petroleum). The agreement sets an important precedent for other sectoral discussions. First released in December of 2000, the agreement is noteworthy because it was convened by governments and included key stakeholders.
