Cabo Delgado: Webinar on business, security and humans rights – Watch

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Cabo Delgado: Webinar on business, security and humans rights – Watch

4:56 CAT | 29 Jan 2021

Photo: Twitter / @ASheppard_UK

Mozambique’s Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a civil society organisation, this Thursday hosted a webinar on human rights in Mozambique, with the focus on Cabo Delgado. The virtual meeting, attended by representatives of the government, business companies and NGOs, highlighted the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs).

These VPs were established between government, extractive industry multinationals and civil society organisations in 2000, “with the aim of providing guidance on the measures that can be taken to minimize the risk of human rights abuses, especially in communities close to resource extraction sites,” the CDD details.

The webinar starts a project supported by the UK Government and called the Dialogue Platform: Business, Security and Human Rights in Cabo Delgado. “We want to achieve a common understanding among stakeholders of the basic human rights instruments for a deeper understanding of human rights in the context of Cabo Delgado,” CDD director Adriano Nuvunga explained.

“We also intend, with the Voluntary Principles and this multilateral initiative, to support a better understanding and application of the relevant laws so that stability can be achieved,” the head of the CDD added.

British deputy high commissioner in Maputo Alexandra Sheppard opened proceedings by highlighting the advantages of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights for the various stakeholders in Mozambique – namely, the government, companies, NGOs and communities. “We hope that they result in the construction of better business practices and the promotion of peace,” she said.

Engaging communities

“Companies have a responsibility to avoid harming people and to address the impacts in which they are involved,” explained Jonathan Drimmer, a lawyer and adviser to the Voluntary Principles Secretariat. “The VPs help provide the framework in terms of operating in areas related to insecurity.”

Anton Mifsud-Bonnici, European specialist in Business and Human Rights, highlighted the importance of including the population in the project. “Putting the community first when outlining security is at the base of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights. This platform is there to include communities in the concept of security and to get them to participate. When communities are not included, security systems are inherently insecure,” he said.

Carmen Munhequete, from the CDD team, addressed international human rights law, admitting that there are difficulties in a conflict situation such as that of Cabo Delgado in which there are several groups of players to be identified, “mainly in an environment where we have civilians mixed with the insurgents”.

“There are cases where it is almost impossible to distinguish between these two groups, which poses challenges, especially for our Defence and Security Forces,” she said.

Cláudio Dinis Mate, director of the Directorate for Human Rights and Citizenship, called for across-the-board involvement. “The Ministry of Justice considers that it is necessary that all sectors are involved in this process. We are talking about the Government, businesses and civil society organisations,” he said.

Colonel Omar Saranga, national director of Defence Policy at the Ministry of National Defense, emphasised the various international mechanisms ratified by Mozambique to highlight the state’s commitment to respect for human rights. Asked about investigations into human rights violations in Cabo Delgado, Saranga mentioned “fellow citizens who are interested in creating misinformation within society”, adding, however, that “there may be one or two cases of deviant behaviour”.

“When this is revealed and clear and concrete evidence is presented, the Armed Forces of Defence of Mozambique have regulations, laws and procedures and act against any deviant behaviour,” he said.

Hoje tive a honra de participar num evento muito interessante sobre os princípios voluntários de segurança e direitos humanos e a sua relevância em #CaboDelgado @CDD_Moz @UKinMozambique @NneNneUK pic.twitter.com/qBbtOayAdt

— Alex Sheppard (@ASheppard_UK) January 28, 2021