ICMM’s Human Rights Due Diligence Guidance is designed to help mining companies improve how human rights impacts are being managed across the world.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace remain enduring challenges for our sector and society at large, as evidenced by troubling findings on workplace culture and practices in the mining and metals sector.
In June 2023, ICMM members made a collective commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplaces and to positively influence the local communities they are a part of. This collective requirements which were updated in June 2022 and represents a joint ambition from companies that make up one-third of the global mining and metals industry.
Issue at a Glance
- Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have a clear basis in human rights. This is reflected in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labor Organisation (ILO) standards, and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
- Companies that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive are shown to be better able to respond to challenges and succeed. As we work to enhance the contribution of mining and metals to sustainable development, we are committed to supporting workplaces that live up to our values, where all people are welcomed, empowered, and supported to grow professionally.
- • We acknowledge that DEI remains an enduring challenge for our industry, and we are united in our condemnation of all forms of discrimination, harassment, and assault. In June 2022, we updated the Mining Principles to drive improvement in company performance on DEI. This was the first step before developing a collective commitment – our DEI Position Statement. While the Mining Principles represent individual company commitments to DEI, the Position Statement sets out a collective commitment from members to work together to improve the experiences of all workers, eradicate discrimination, harassment, and assault of any kind in our workplaces, such that our efforts also positively influence the communities in which we work, and contribute to a beneficial cultural shift across society.
Our Priorities
Collective Commitment on DEI
In June 2023, ICMM members made a new collective commitment to improve diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the mining and metals industry and positively influence the communities that companies are a part of. To achieve this, the following four actions will be taken by the end of 2024:
- Accelerate action – Accelerate individual and collective action to eliminate harmful behaviours from our workplaces and communities. This includes developing a roadmap which will outline the direction of the actions being taken and set out key milestones to help achieve agreed goals.
- Set goals – Set individual and collective goals, relevant to operating contexts, to eliminate all forms of harassment and discriminatory behaviours. This will help to demonstrate progress.
- Increase transparency – Disclose aggregated performance against these goals in accordance with ICMM’s Social and Economic Reporting Framework. This includes disaggregating data by gender and ethnicity, where possible, helping to assess the progress being made.
- Collaborate for greater effect – Work together with companies, industry associations, underrepresented groups, communities, investors, and others to advocate for and find solutions to the challenges relating to DEI in the industry.
Strengthened ICMM Mining Principles
In June 2022, we announced updates to the Mining Principles aimed at improving company performance on DEI. These critical updates help reinforce the integral role of DEI to sustainable development, include additional actions to eliminate all forms of harassment and unfair discrimination from our workplaces, and set out proactive steps to achieve gender equity. This includes the unencumbered participation of all peoples and cements the importance of psychological safety alongside physical health and safety in our efforts to achieve zero harm. We encourage all mining companies to implement the Mining Principles to improve performance across the industry.
Latest Updates on DEI
Our Staff
Related Resources
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