Business & Human Rights : Indigenous peoples

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Main Content: Indigenous peoples - an introduction

Below are select introductory materials on business and indigenous peoples. Further reports from a wide range of sources are in the "Indigenous peoples" section of our site.

Key international standards
Key reports & guidance
Concerns, company responses & non-responses
Positive steps by companies
Lawsuits regarding indigenous peoples

Key international standards

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

ILO Convention 169

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: General Recommendation 23

Key reports & guidance

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights, Extractive Industries and Transnational and Other Business Enterprises: A Submission to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, Forest Peoples Programme & Tebtebba Foundation, 29 Dec 2006

Mining and Indigenous Peoples Issues Roundtable: Continuing a Dialogue between Indigenous Peoples and Mining Companies, World Conservation Union (IUCN) & International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), 30-31 Jan 2008

Earth Matters: Indigenous Peoples, the Extractive Industries and Corporate Social Responsibility, Edited by Ciaran O’Faircheallaigh and Saleem Ali, 5 Dec 2008

Transnational governmentality as resource extraction: indigenous peoples, mutlinational corporations, multinational institutions and the state, Suzana Sawyer & Terence Gomez, UNRISD, 1 Sep 2008

Company-Led Approaches to Conflict Resolution in the Forest Sector [PDF], International Institute for Environment & Development, for The Forests Dialogue, Apr 2009

Concerns, company responses & non-responses

The Resource Centre invites companies to respond to allegations of misconduct. Below are examples of allegations and company responses regarding indigenous peoples. We also indicate when a company has not responded.

Global: London Mining Network says BHP Billiton failed to respond to social & environmental concerns at annual meeting - cases from Philippines, Indonesia, Guatemala, Colombia, Nov 2008. Response from BHP Billiton.

Global: London Mining Network publishes "alternative report" to BHP Billiton's annual report - concerns over impacts on environment, indigenous peoples, human rights in Asia-Pacific, Americas, So. Africa, Nov 2009. Response from BHP Billiton.

Global: Joint NGO report “True Cost of Chevron” raises concerns about its social & environmental impacts worldwide Jun 2009. Response from Chevron.

Global: Calvert removes Weyerhaeuser from social index for failing to meet standards on indigenous peoples' rights, Jul 2009. Response from Weyerhaeuser.

Global: Report raises concerns about projects by Canadian-owned companies in Asia & Africa, including endangering the rights of indigenous residents, May 2007. Responses from TVI Pacific, Nortel. Previous Doe Run statement provided.

Botswana: Survival Intl. says De Beers returns to mine Central Kalahari Game Reserve while Bushmen are still displaced – also refers to Gem Diamonds, Oct 2008. Response from De Beers. No response received from Gem Diamonds.

Botswana: BHP Billiton exploring for diamonds in Kalahari reserve without Bushmen’s consent, according to Survival International, Mar 2005. Response from BHP Billiton.

Colombia: Colombia Solidarity Campaign submission to UK Parliament Joint Committee on Human Rights alleges negative impacts on the Mandé Norte/Murindó mining project on indigenous people, Jul 2009. Response from Muriel Mining.

Ecuador: 40 indigenous communities call on Petroecuador to make certain social & environmental measures in “Bloque 15“ (formerly operated by Occidental), June 2006. Response from Petroecuador. [in Spanish]

Guatemala: Indigenous farmers protest against displacement, environmental damage by sugar ethanol companies - Alleged violent repression of protestors by security agents working for Ingenio Guadalupe, Aug 2008. Response from Ingenio Guadalupe.

India: ActionAid raises concerns about impact of Vedanta Resources alumina project on indigenous groups & environment, Sep 2007. Response from Vedanta Resources.

India: Residents oppose proposed Utkal bauxite mining & alumina refinery project over environmental, displacement concerns, Apr 2005. Response from Alcan.