Why human rights matter: a resource guide for integrating human rights into Communities and Social Performance work at Rio Tinto
We know that our decisions and actions, whether inadvertent or deliberate, can result in adverse human impacts. We also recognise that respecting human rights is a continual process which we will always strive to improve. We are determined to be proactive. While it is tempting to believe that simple human decency can be our compass, the complexity of our interaction with local communities, and the human rights issues which arise as a result, requires a systematic approach and expert guidance...This guide focuses on what due diligence, risk assessment and community engagement mean in a human rights context, examines why human rights matter in Communities and Social Performance (CSP) work, and illustrates how our processes and systems align with international standards and expectations, using real-life examples we have encountered in our business...we hope that it will be of use to all Rio Tinto employees, and of interest to our stakeholders who want to understand how we meet our ‘responsibility to respect human rights’. [refers to Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto Alcan (part of Rio Tinto), Kelian Equatorial Mining (part of Rio Tinto, now closed)]