Claude Voillat

Claude brings 20 years of experience leading the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the nexus ‘business and human rights’. His main focus is business operations in conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRAs). Within this field, he has engaged extensively, and participated in the development of concepts and processes such as ‘do no harm’, ‘conflict-sensitive practices’, ‘responsible security management’, ‘human rights due diligence’ and ‘heightened human rights due diligence’ applied to business operations.

Claude has relentlessly been pushing the cause of responsible business practices in CAHRAs by actively participating in multistakeholder initiatives (such as the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights), by weighing on the development of regulatory and standard-setting mechanisms (such as the Global Reporting Initiative or the World Benchmarking Alliance), by supporting industry associations or initiatives, and by engaging directly with companies on their policies and practices.

As a response to business calls for guidance and support, Claude has launched and co-led for more than 10 years a partnership with the Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance (DCAF). This partnership has delivered a set of guidance tools specifically meant to support companies operating in CAHRAs in their alignment with hard and soft law mechanisms, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Stakeholders have systematically welcomed and praised the tools as constructive, practical, supportive, helpful and standard-setting.

Prior to his involvement in the field of ‘business and human rights’, Claude worked for about 14 years in various roles and responsibilities as a humanitarian worker and then manager, endeavouring to find and develop solutions to protect and assist people and communities affected by armed conflicts. This enriching and challenging experience led him to geographies like Israel and Palestinian Occupied Territories, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, South Africa, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Macedonia and the Russian Federation.

Claude holds a Masters in Social and Political Sciences (University of Lausanne) as well as a Masters in Business Administration (University of Geneva).

Claude takes as a starting point that businesses are a massive force for good as an engine of hope and development in conflict settings, provided the appropriate precautions are taken and the appropriate mindset is put on. Claude believes in empathy, open-minded active listening, diversity and humour as powerful tools to help crack complicated challenges.