...Improving the human rights performance of public security organizations is a global undertaking requiring significant commitment, resources and effort...Members of the VPI collectively have decades of experience in improving the human rights performance of private and public security providers...

The Voluntary Principles require public security providers, such as police, to act in a manner consistent with the protection and promotion of human rights in accordance with the rule of law...The VPI has found that improving the human rights performance of private and public security providers leads to better outcomes, not just on human rights, but also on improving relations and building trust with communities and citizens..Relevant Principles and best practices include:
• Conducting periodic risk assessments regarding the potential for violence and risks of human rights abuses allows police and other security providers to better understand the situations and populations for which risks are highest;

• Security practices must consider the unique human rights risks facing ethnic and racial minorities, women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, human rights defenders, and other vulnerable groups, and respond accordingly...

As a security and human rights initiative, the VPI has always been acutely aware of the potential for human rights violations in the provision of security services. We hope our experience might benefit governments and public security institutions currently reflecting on the risk of human rights abuses...

For the full text of the Voluntary Principles, please see http://www.voluntaryprinciples.org/wp- content/uploads/2019/12/TheVoluntaryPrinciples.pdf...