Delivering an on-site human rights impact assessment in DR Congo

We worked with an international mining major on a cutting-edge, quantified site-level human rights impact assessment in Katanga, in full alignment with the United Nations Guiding Principles.

• Challenge

  Following the corporate-level HRIA, the client wanted to drill down into human rights risks and impacts at operation level – and to integrate input from rights holders. The on-site HRIA was carried out to prioritise the most pressing human rights risks / impacts – and inform management responses. It also provided an opportunity to identify grievances not captured by grievance mechanisms, NGOs or media reports.

• Solution

  In consultation with key stakeholders, we built on the methodology developed for the corporate-level HRIA. This included extensive engagement with over 70 employee, community, government and civil society representatives in and around the mine area (including vulnerable groups). The aim of the assessment was to verify and enrich the corporate assessment and identify otherwise hidden impacts, dynamics and (mis)perceptions.

• Outcome

  The HRIA analysed the type, volume and severity of impacts, whilst also identifying previously unknown issues. It confirmed that existing employee / community grievance mechanisms were largely effective and that the mine’s HSE management systems minimised related human rights impacts. Higher severity impacts were linked to criminal attacks against workers, illegal artisanal mining, road safety and public security forces.