I think standards are necessary for two reasons. Number one, they create a consistent set of expectations for all players. Whether it's a small mom-and-pop mining company that's moving in or a large multi-billion-dollar company, they all have the same expectations as to the minimal human rights obligations they must live up to. The second one is that having clear standards sets the ground for meaningful enforcement. Without clear standards, it's impossible to enforce.
On October 27th, 2009. See this statement in context.