NEWS

12.06.08
ICMM welcomes Ruggie report

The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) welcomes the third report of Professor John Ruggie, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) on business and human rights. ICMM applauds his efforts to bring clarity and consensus to the complex debate around the roles and responsibilities of business with respect to human rights.

The Protect, Respect and Remedy framework set out in the Special Representative’s report clearly distinguishes between the distinctive rolesof states and corporations. It brings definition to the responsibility of states to protect human rights, and of businesses to respect them, while highlighting the key role of access to remedies.

In this regard, the report’s focus on “defining the specific responsibilities of companies in relation to all rights” as opposed to “defining a limited list of rights linked to imprecise and expansive responsibilities”is persuasive. The deconstruction of spheres of influence into the related but distinct aspects of impact and leverage is also a welcome contribution to the debate.

The focus on grievance mechanisms at the corporate level is also welcome. ICMM is strongly supportive of effective corporate level grievance mechanisms and the six inter-related attributes of effective grievance mechanisms outlined in the SRSG’s report are valuable touchstones against which companies can benchmark their own grievance mechanisms.

ICMM fully supports the endorsement of the Special Representative’s report by the United Nations Human Rights Council and looks forward to engaging with him on a renewed mandate.  ICMM is committed to identifying and spreading best practice around human rights issues including such areas as human rights impact assessments and grievance procedures, and will be discussing the implications of the Special Representative’s report for the mining sector.

RELATED PUBLICATIONS

Public response

Third submission to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Human Rights and Business
Download PDF

  • ICMM responds to War on Want report
    » Download PDF
    » Read more
  • Second submission to the UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Human Rights and Business
    » Download PDF
  • Submission to UN Secretary General's Special Representative on Human Rights and Business
    » Download PDF
  • Mining and Indigenous Peoples Issues Review
    » Download PDF
    » Read more
  • ICMM Position Statement on Mining and Indigenous People
    » Download PDF
  • Mining and Indigenous Peoples' Roundtable
    » Download PDF
    » Read more

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

Principle 03:

Uphold fundamental human rights and respect cultures, customs and values in dealings with employees and others who are affected by our activities.

© International Council on Mining and Metals 2008. The ICMM logo is a trade mark of the International Council on Mining and Metals. Registered in the United Kingdom, Australia and Japan.