This website provides practical knowledge and tools focusing on social, environmental and economic development issues for companies, civil society, local and regional governments.
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Why human rights matter ( A resource guide for integrating human rights into Communities and Social Performance work at Rio Tinto )
January 2013
This guide focuses on what due diligence, risk assessment and community engagement mean in a human rights context, examines why human rights matter in Communities and Social Performance (CSP) work, and illustrates how our processes and systems align with international standards and expectations, using real-life examples we have encountered in our business.
Mining’s contribution to sustainable development - A series
June 2012
The extraction and processing of minerals and metals to provide goods and services essential to human society is as old as human development itself. Minerals and metals have brought huge benefits to society – they are vital commodities that serve as a foundation to society’s material quality of life. In today’s world, population growth, urbanization, social and economic development and even demands for a green (or low carbon) economy are all contributing to an increase in the demand for minerals and metals. However meeting that demand and achieving the benefits comes at a cost.
Peru Municipal Royalty Investment ( Ensuring local communities benefit from extractive industries )
While the royalties received by municipalities represent a great opportunity to lift communities out of poverty, local governments have difficulty translating these resources into projects that deliver tangible benefits to the population. Weak institutions and lack of management skills have led to limited investment capacity, at the local government level. This is underscored by the fact that by the end of 2011 half of the royalties received by the municipalities in Peru remained undisbursed.
Click here to access the case study.
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas ( Second Edition )
2012
The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (“the Guidance”) is the first example of a collaborative government-backed multi-stakeholder initiative on responsible supply chain management of minerals from conflict-affected areas. Its objective is to help companies respect human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral sourcing practices.
Supporting Worker Empowerment ( Including Support for Workers’ Assertion of their Human Rights - in the Supply Chain )
2011
This Note is focused on what businesses can do to better support workers in their supply chain,including through supporting workers’ assertion of their human rights. As such, it is relevant to both the corporate responsibility to respect human rights and the corporate commitment to support human rights.Empowered workers and stronger management-worker relationships increase worker productivity, reduce absenteeism and staff turnover, and help prevent work stoppages in supply chains.
Human rights training toolkit - 3rd edition
August 2012
This third edition of the Toolkit is designed to enhance the capabilities of companies in managing human rights issues and impacts in their business operations through providing awareness training on human rights issues relevant to employees, suppliers/contractors, provision of security, and community engagement.
Operational level grievance mechanisms ( IPIECA Good Practice Survey )
2012
This IPIECA Good Practice Survey on Operational Level Grievance Mechanisms builds on a decade of active engagement by IPIECA on business and human rights. IPIECA was among the first industry bodies to incorporate human rights into our social responsibility work in the early 2000s, later establishing a dedicated task force to advance best practice. Member companies actively supported the mandate of the UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights. Most recently, following the adoption of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, IPIECA launched a three-year initiative to advance implementation of two key pillars of the framework: human rights due diligence and grievance mechanisms. In each of these areas, IPIECA is developing guidance tailored to the unique needs of the oil and gas industry through a combination of field testing, collaborative learning and consultation with a range of external stakeholders and experts.
Human rights due diligence process ( A practical guide to implementation for oil and gas companies )
The purpose of this Guide is to assist oil and gas companies in implementing a due diligence process for human rights. This can be an essential part of a company’s overall risk management strategy, especially in countries where human rights issues may be more prevalent. The Guide aims to:
● clarify what constitutes a due diligence process for human rights;
● clarify the business case for a human rights duediligence process;
● support the development and/or continuous improvement of due diligence processes for human rights; and
● promote consistent approaches to the management of potential human rights issues and impacts.
State of Play ( The Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights in Business Relationships )
December 03, 2012
This report takes stock of efforts by companies to address human rights impacts associated with their business relationships. Behind the macro trends and data of globalisation lies a complex array of individual business relationships, each with specific commercial objectives. This Report explores the implications of the United Nations
(UN) Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (Guiding Principles)1 for these relationships, looking at how responsible business commitments and practices are being integrated at the micro level.
Community Consent Index ( Oil, Gas and Mining Company Public Positions on Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) )
2012
Increasingly, around the world local communities are demanding a meaningful voice in determining whether and under what conditions oil, natural gas, and mining projects take place. As conflicts and controversies surrounding oil, gas, and mining operations have intensified in recent years, the principle of “free, prior, and informed consent” (FPIC) has emerged as a focal point in the broader debate around extractive industries. Oxfam defines FPIC as the principle that indigenous peoples and local communities must be adequately informed about oil, gas, and mining projects in a timely manner and should be given the opportunity to approve (or reject) a project prior to the commencement of perations.