Newmont’s approach to protecting human rights includes working with communities, governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other businesses to develop and implement best practices and frameworks that provide for accountability and transparency in protecting human rights.
In addition to being a participant in the UN Global Compact – a voluntary, yet accountable, initiative for businesses committed to its ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption – Newmont also actively participates in theVoluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR).
Participants in the VPSHR include the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, the Netherlands, Canada, Columbia and Switzerland, along with companies operating in the resource industry and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch. As a formal participant, Newmont provides an annual report of its efforts to implement and promote the Voluntary Principles (VPs), which help companies:
- Conduct a comprehensive assessment of human rights risks associated with security;
- Engage appropriately with public and private security in conflict prone areas;
- Require training for public and private security forces working on company property;
- Ensure that when the use of force is absolutely necessary, it is proportionate and lawful; and
- Develop accountable processes for reporting and investigating allegations of human rights abuses.
Because implementing the VPs can be challenging in areas of historical conflict or weak governance, Implementation Guide Tools (IGT) were developed in 2011 to serve as a reference guide to any company seeking to ensure it operates in a manner that respects human rights.
In addition to online tools, workshops on the Voluntary Principles IGTs are offered to all resource companies. This year, Newmont is co-sponsoring a one-day workshop on July 10 and 11, 2012, in Lima, Peru. Participants in the workshop will have the opportunity to:
- Learn about the VPs and the relevant applications to their company;
- Apply the modules of the IGT in various environments;
- Improve corporate procedures regarding human rights and security of operations; and
- Use the IGT to develop insights that may be relevant for the organization’s ongoing efforts around implementing the VPs.
For more information about Newmont’s commitment to protecting human rights, please read our annual sustainability report, Beyond the Mine.