This is the first public U.S. Government report on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs) Initiative...The U.S. Government has prepared this public report in line with our commitment to make our participation in the VPs Initiative as transparent as possible...The U.S. Government has provided input to the Volunteer Group upon consultation, and is eager to continue working to develop a credible, practical system to validate VPs corporate participants’ effective implementation of the VPs...The U.S. Government believes that developing an assurance process enhances transparency and credibility, and helps ensure that new VPs participants abide by their commitments. The Volunteer Group consists of: Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, Barrick Gold..., BG Group, BHP Billiton, BP, Freeport-McMoRan..., Inmet Mining..., Newmont..., Rio Tinto, Shell, Statoil, Talisman..., and Total.