Document library

pr_oecd_finalstatementt_enrc_drc

After an ignominious exit from the London Stock Exchange, the Eurasian Resources Group (ERG, formerly ENRC) has been publicly criticised by the UK Government for failing to address human rights impacts at mine sites under the control of its subsidiaries in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[1]  ENRC had tried – but ultimately failed – to get the adverse findings overturned.  In a complaint brought by RAID and its Congolese partner, Action contre l'impunite pour les droits humains (ACIDH), the UK’s National Contact Point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, who concluded:

• ‘ENRC has not engaged effectively with two stakeholder communities on the concessions, and has not taken adequate steps to address impacts on the communities’.
• ‘ENRC has not met the obligation to address human rights impacts with which it is involved’.

• ‘One of the impacts that is not adequately addressed is a threat to the security of community access to safe drinking water. The right to safe water is a human right’.

pr_oecd_finalstatementt_enrc_drc.pdf

pr_voluntary_principles_ungps

In April 2016 the Government of Canada takes over as chair of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs). NGOs are calling on the Canadian government to seize the opportunity to correct practices that undermine the prospects of impoverished communities overseas to seek remedy for corporate abuse.  RAID and MiningWatch Canada warn that the UN Guiding Principles and the VPs allow companies to privatise and control the implementation of human rights, and that this is most apparent in the implementation of “operational level” grievance mechanisms. RAID’s new report Principles without justice: the corporate takeover of human rights (here) released in advance of 2016 plenary meeting of the Voluntary Principles Iniativie in Colombia examines the deficiencies with the VPs and Guiding Principles and further details recommendations for reform

pr_voluntary_principles_ungps.pdf

principles_without_justice

This report, Principles without justice – the corporate takeover of human rights, offers an in-depth critique of company complaints mechanisms as practised by two extractive industry companies Acacia Mining (formerly African Barrick Gold, ABG) operating in Tanzania and Glencore’s subsidiary, the Kamoto Copper Corporation (KCC), in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Both companies have explicitly endorsed the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (‘GPs’) and adhere to the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (‘VPs’), although only Glencore is a participant in the initiative.  Acacia Mining claims adherence to the VPs by virtue of Barrick Gold (its majority shareholder) being a signatory and member of the Voluntary Principles Plenary.

principles_without_justice.pdf

PR: Broken Bones and Broken Promises

A second human rights field assessment at Barrick Gold’s Tanzania subsidiary, Acacia Mining (formerly African Barrick Gold), calls into question commitments made by the company to stop excessive use of force by mine security and police guarding the mine. Interviews conducted by MiningWatch Canada and the British NGO Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) also confirmed that the grievance mechanism at the North Mara Gold Mine Ltd. was used strategically to divert victims from taking legal action. These victims are now facing broken promises by the company and inadequate remedy to deal with the serious long-term harm they have endured.

PR: Broken Bones and Broken Promises

second_witness_statement_of_patricia_feeney

Second Witnesss Statement of Patricia Feeney, Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) v (1) The Information Commissioner, (2) Her Najesty's Treasury, Case No. EA/2015/0019, First- Tier Tribunal (Information Rights)

second_witness_statement_of_patricia_feeney.pdf

redacted_second_statement_of_peter_maydon_open_version

Second Witnesss Statement of Mr Peter Maydon, Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) v (1) The Information Commissioner, (2) Her Najesty's Treasury, Case No. EA/2015/0019, First- Tier Tribunal (Information Rights)

redacted_second_statement_of_peter_maydon_open_version.pdf

first_witness_statement_of_patricia_feeney

Witnesss Statement of Patricia Feeney, Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) v (1) The Information Commissioner, (2) Her Najesty's Treasury, Case No. EA/2015/0019, First- Tier Tribunal (Information Rights)

first_witness_statement_of_patricia_feeney.pdf

PR: summary critique of GPs and VPSHR released

Time to rethink company grievance mechanisms

PR: summary critique of GPs and VPSHR released

principles-justice-summary

Summary and Recommendations from Principles without justice – the corporate takeover of human rights. The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, have allowed companies to privatise and control the implementation of human rights.

principles-justice-summary.pdf