Security and Human Rights

Transnational institutions increasingly commit multinational companies to human rights on a voluntary basis. This study investigates in this booklet the security practices of multinational companies and to what extent these comply with voluntary human rights standards, such as the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. And if so, wether solves problems of insecurity caused by the presence of these firms. Drawing on two case studies of multinational mining companies in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the authors argue that it is necessary to go beyond compliance research, which focuses on the implementation of formal programs from a top-down perspective, to evaluate voluntary standards and the effects of companies on local security. They therefore develop a conceptual framework from a ‘bottom-up perspective,’ concentrating on the entire range of companies’ local security practices, including negative effects on local security. Such an approach draws a more nuanced picture of corporate security practices and allows for a more differentiated evaluation of voluntary standards and of contributions by companies to local (in)security.