A CSR Best Practice at Barrick - By Paul Klein
Paul also writes a blog about Corporate Responsibility for Canadian Business online, sits on the Advisory Board for the Centre for CSR at the Queen's School for Business, and has written extensively for publications in Canada and the United States.
Feb 4, 2011 7:11 AM ET
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A CSR Best Practice at Barrick
According to a report released yesterday by Human Rights Watch, private security personnel employed at the Porgera gold mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have been implicated in alleged gang rapes and other violent abuses. The Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) mine has produced billions of dollars of gold in its twenty years of operation, and is operated and 95 percent owned by Barrick Gold, a Canadian company that is the world’s largest gold producer.
Barrick’s response to this finding has been commendable and should be considered a best practice. Here’s why:
- Barrick did not deny the allegations. Barrick has expressed thanks to Human Rights Watch (HRW) for providing information that assisted the company and the police in conducting investigations. In addition, over the past six months, the company and Human Rights Watch “have worked together constructively and have discussed a range of important subjects in connection with the PJV.”
