Dinant Staff Receive Red Cross Training

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of Corporacion Dinant's continuing efforts to operate in a safe, transparent and respectful manner at all of its operational sites in Honduras, the company recently received practical training by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – the Geneva-based humanitarian organization – on a range of security issues.

Roger Pineda, spokesman for Dinant said, "Dinant has made significant progress on security issues over the last few years, with the Red Cross being the latest of several internationally acclaimed organizations to guide us.  We are implementing the criteria laid out in the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, which govern how we vet, recruit and train our security staff, and how they engage with members of the community.  We have removed all firearms from security staff at all of our plantation sites.  And we have improved our Community Engagement Program through such initiatives as stakeholder surveys and formal grievance mechanisms.  The Red Cross training that 138 of our staff received over two days in July – on subjects such as self-defense and the proportionate use of force – is yet another step that Dinant is taking to help mitigate the potential for conflict in the Bajo Aguan."

Dinant recognize that security is essential and sometimes difficult, but we believe that respect for human rights is universal.  That is why our security staff and contractors must observe company policies on ethical standards and human rights, exercise restraint and caution in a manner consistent with international guidelines on use of force, and observe Dinant's Rules of Engagement.

Mr. Pineda continued, "We thank the International Committee of the Red Cross for their training.  When added to our existing Rules of Engagement and the principles of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, we believe we are well placed to contribute to safer communities in the Bajo Aguan."

Dinant invites interested stakeholders to visit our operations in the Bajo Aguan to see the results of the extensive resources we are committing to community engagement.

About Corporacion Dinant
Corporacion Dinant is a family-owned consumer products manufacturer founded in Honduras by Miguel Facusse in 1960.  Our products are sold throughout Central America and the Dominican Republic, and exported to global markets.  Dinant employs almost 8,000 people, directly supporting over 22,000 livelihoods, generating many millions of US$s in exports for the Honduran economy, and contributing significantly to the economies of all countries in which we operate.

Media contact: Roger Pineda, [email protected], t: +(504) 2239-8800

SOURCE Corporacion Dinant