A/HRC/29/25 human rights of individuals are not violated, including the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association; (d) The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers, a multi-stakeholder initiative convened by the Government of Switzerland to set standards and principles for the conduct of private security service providers based on international human rights and humanitarian law.13 The initiative establishes an external independent oversight mechanism to enhance accountability; (e) The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Companies, non-binding principles and standards recommended by adhering States for responsible business conduct. The Guidelines are actively promoted by Governments through national contact points, which also provide mediation and conciliation platforms to resolve issues that may arise. Enterprises are encouraged to respect internationally recognized human rights norms and support the promotion of respect for the freedoms of expression, assembly and association online. The recommendations largely mirror those contained in the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights discussed above. 25. Many States consider that their obligations in relation to human rights apply only within their borders. In recent years, efforts have been made to highlight States’ extraterritorial obligations, which are inherent in international human rights law. The Maastricht Principles on Extraterritorial Obligations of States in the area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights were compiled by international experts as a restatement of international law clarifying States’ extraterritorial obligations. Although conceived in relation to economic, social and cultural rights, the principles are also applicable to civil and political rights. Of interest to the Special Rapporteur is the obligation for States to adopt and enforce measures to realize rights not only where the threat or harm occurs within their territory, but also “where the corporation or its parent or controlling company, has its center of activity, is registered or domiciled, or has its main place of business or substantial business activities, in the State concerned” (principle 25 (c)). Broadening the concept of responsibility to include more than one State not only strengthens underlying rights, it also increases the chances of victims obtaining redress when violations occur. 26. Initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the Open Government Partnership enshrine the role of citizens in policymaking processes, including those related to natural resource governance. 27. The objective of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative is to promote openness and accountability in the management of natural resource exploitation through a global standard.14 Implementation and monitoring of the standard is overseen by an international board and national multi-stakeholder groups, consisting of representatives from Governments, companies and civil society representatives. The underlying rationale is that the management of natural resources in any country is a shared interest and can only be effective when all stakeholders have access to relevant information and are able to act on this information to promote sustainable economic and social development. To achieve the objectives of the Initiative, implementing countries are required, among other things, to 13 14 10 Also of interest is the Montreux Document on pertinent international legal obligations and good practices for States related to operations of private military and security companies during armed conflict, which resulted from an initiative by the Swiss Government and the International Committee of the Red Cross to reiterate international humanitarian and human rights law principles that govern the activities of private military and security companies in the context of armed conflict (see A/63/467–S/2008/636, annex). Available from https://eiti.org/files/English_EITI_STANDARD.pdf.