International Council on Mining and Metals
Issues Review: Business and Human Rights
November 2005 – April 2006
The brief:
Futureye was engaged by ICMM to undertake a summary of the critical human rights issues and challenges facing the mineral resources industry and an assessment of the current approaches and capacity of ICMM member companies to effectively manage these issues. ICMM wanted to produce a document to serve as an internal resource for its member companies and to inform the preparation of an ‘information brief’ to be submitted to Professor Ruggie, the United Nations Secretary General Special Representative, who was conducting an enquiry into human rights standards of corporate responsibility and accountability for transnational corporations.
Our solution:
Futureye conducted research on the major human rights challenges faced by mining companies and examined the positions of different actors including NGOs, States, intergovernmental organisations, and business groups. Futureye examined the extent to which the major issues were covered by existing international standards and voluntary initiatives and documented strengths and criticisms of existing approaches.
Futureye undertook a survey of 9 ICMM member companies to provide an overview of ICMM member companies’ approaches related to human rights. A gaps assessment between the issues identified and existing company initiatives was undertaken as well as a compendium of good-practice case studies on each of the major issues.
The result:
ICMM has a report that can be used as an internal resource in helping member companies tackle their major human rights challenges. The Futureye report also served as an input to the submission made by ICMM to the Special Representative, which has been well received.