ICMM publishes updated guidance to support the mining industry to proactively manage human rights impacts
London, UK – ICMM has published updated guidance which is designed to help mining companies improve how human rights impacts are managed across the globe.
ICMM’s Human Rights Due Diligence Guidance (the Guidance) aims to help mining companies to better integrate human rights into existing risk management approaches. This includes having robust policies and processes in place to assess actual and potential human rights impacts, act upon the findings, track responses, and transparently communicate how impacts have been addressed.
Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. Since the endorsement of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) we have undoubtably seen an improvement in how companies are managing human rights due diligence. But violations have occurred with unacceptable and heart-breaking impacts. With the demand for metals and minerals critical to the energy transition set to increase dramatically, having strong human rights policies and processes in place are essential in making that transition just and fair.
“Change begins with us, but we won’t see quick enough progress if we work alone. To ensure fundamental rights and freedoms are respected, we are committed to working with governments, communities, and civil society to drive the change needed. This Guidance is an important resource for the whole industry, no matter the size or location of your company.
Mining companies can have significant positive and negative impacts on the people who live and work close to operations. In 2018, ICMM set an example for other industries by requiring member companies to implement the UNGPs, including in particular human rights due diligence processes.
“Since then, there have been rapid advances in international, regional and domestic human rights regulations, and companies will need to evolve and enhance their processes to meet these developments, marrying legal compliance with the respect for rightsholders called for by the UNGPs. I welcome the efforts made by ICMM to support the mining industry in rising to meet these challenges, and the updated guidance will be a useful resource for practitioners applying human rights due diligence processes.
ICMM first published guidance on the topic in 2012 to coincide with the United Nations Human Rights Council endorsing the UNGPs, and in 2018, ICMM became the first industry body to commit to upholding the UNGPs. The 2023 updated Guidance responds directly to ongoing challenges of integrating the UNGPs across organisations. It also provides an overview of leading practice and regulation which has emerged in the last decade.
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Notes to Editor
- You can download the individual tools found within the Guidance here. This includes:
- Tool 1: Applying a Human Rights Lens
- Tool 2: Human Rights Due Diligence Maturity Matrix
- Tool 3: Assessing Salient Human Rights Issues
- Tool 4: Approaches to Assessment of Human Rights Impacts
- Tool 5: Integrating Human Rights in Business Risk Processes
- Tool 6: Human Rights Due Diligence Supply Chains
- Supporting Resources – includes key issue areas, the regulatory landscape, equivalency benchmark, reference and a glossary.
- ICMM’s guidance on handing and resolving community concerns and crievances can be downloaded here.
About ICMM
ICMM stands for mining with principles. We bring together a third of the global metals and mining industry, along with key partners to drive leadership, action and innovation for sustainable development, ultimately delivering a positive contribution to society. Through collaboration, ICMM member companies set the standard for responsibly produced minerals and metals in a safe, just and sustainable world.
About Jonathan Drimmer
Jonathan Drimmer is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice at Paul Hastings. He is one of the world’s leading attorneys on business and human rights, and is a frequent speaker, author and commentator on human rights, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPs), the UK Modern Slavery Act, and Environmental, Social and Governance issues more generally. He is the former Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Barrick Gold.
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