The partnership will see the DIHR develop country risk assessments and advise Rio Tinto on countries in which it operates or plans to operate, while the mining company will provide support for the expansion of the DIHR’s Human Rights and Business Country Portal, a website that helps businesses identify, assess and address human rights risks in specific countries.
“Rio Tinto’s commitment to human rights has always been an integral part of our code of conduct, The Way We Work, said Tom Albanese, Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive, in a statement from the company.
While we have done much good work in this area, we need to constantly keep our policy and practices under review to ensure that we continue to improve our performance. Working with experts in the field is an essential part of this and our partnership with the DIHR will provide us with further insight into specific human rights challenges.”
DIHR Director Jonas Christoffersen, also spoke highly of the new partnership with Rio Tinto.
This is as an opportunity for us to promote human rights in the many countries where Rio Tinto operates as well as in the global mining and metals industry,” he said.
Rio Tinto has diamond operations in Canada ‘s Northwest Territories , Western Australia and Zimbabwe .
In August 2010, its Murowa diamond mine in Zimbabwe won the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Best Corporate Social Responsibility Programs award for 2009 on the basis of its community programs with a special focus on employee welfare and HIV/AIDS programs.
The Murowa diamond mine, which is 78 percent owned by Rio Tinto and began operations in 2004, is located near Zvishavane in the south western part of Zimbabwe . To read more about the award and Rio Tinto’s contributions to the Murowa diamond community.
Post published in: News