Washington, DC, June 20, 2017 – To increase public understanding of an emerging source of international standards for responsible business and governmental conduct, MSI Integrity, the Duke Human Rights Center at the Kenan Institute for Ethics, and Miller & Chevalier have published an online database of multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs). The MSI Database, available at www.msi-database.org, catalogues information about the scope, governance, and operation of transnational standard-setting MSIs. In recent years, prominent companies, governments, civil society organizations, and community groups have increasingly collaborated in voluntary initiatives – commonly known as MSIs – focused on addressing the human rights and environmental impacts of international business operations and other matters of broad public interest. As such, MSIs are powerfully shaping the global governance landscape and the standards to which companies are held. 
 
The MSI Database presents key data points on transnational standard-setting MSIs – initiatives that address issues of concern to a wide range of stakeholders. The database is intended to provide an introduction to this increasingly influential source of standards, and to highlight information that companies and other stakeholder groups may consider when engaging with MSIs. In particular, the database sets out information regarding: 

• Industries in which MSIs operate
• Participation of different stakeholder groups in MSI governance
• Involvement of affected communities
• Whether MSIs reference international human rights or environmental law
• Whether MSIs require independent evaluations of members
• Whether MSIs require publicly available reports of evaluations
• Whether MSIs provide a mechanism for external complaints
• Whether MSIs have authority to sanction members 

The MSI Database features the results of data collected in 2016 by MSI Integrity and the Duke Human Rights Center at the Kenan Institute for Ethics, with the support of Miller & Chevalier as pro bono counsel for this project.

About MSI Integrity

MSI Integrity is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California that works in partnership with academic institutions and civil society organizations to understand the human rights impact and value of multi-stakeholder initiatives that address business and human rights.

About the Duke Human Rights Center at the Kenan Institute for Ethics

The Duke Human Rights Center at the Kenan Institute for Ethics is an interdisciplinary "think and do" tank at Duke University. The Duke Human Rights Center at Kenan explores contemporary international human rights challenges by promoting innovative pedagogy and interdisciplinary collaboration that bridge research, advocacy and policy.

About Miller & Chevalier 

Miller & Chevalier is a Washington, DC law firm with a global perspective and leading practices in Tax, Employee Benefits, International Law and Business, White Collar and Internal Investigations, Complex Litigation, and Government Affairs. Miller & Chevalier's Business & Human Rights (BHR) practice draws on the firm's deep experience in compliance counseling, investigations, and litigation to provide tailored strategies to comply with BHR and related standards, prevent violations that create reputational and operational risk, and defend against alleged violations if issues arise. For more information on the firm, visit www.millerchevalier.com.

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CONTACT: 

Ben Collins, Acting Executive Director, MSI Integrity, ben@msi-integrity.org, 415.243.6305

Madeline Hung, Research Coordinator, MSI Integrity, madeline@msi-integrity.org, 650.773.6141

Suzanne Katzenstein, Research Scholar & Project Director, The Duke Human Rights Center at the Kenan Institute for Ethics, Duke University, suzanne.katzenstein@duke.edu, 917.715.6156

Kathryn Cameron Atkinson, Member and Chair, International Department, Miller & Chevalier, katkinson@milchev.com, 202.626.5957

Nate Lankford, Member, Miller & Chevalier, nlankford@milchev.com, 202.626.5978

Maryna Kavaleuskaya, Law Clerk, Miller & Chevalier, mkavaleuskaya@milchev.com, 202.626.1471