US/UK Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
Implementing the Voluntary Principles at Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto not only supports the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights issued by the US and UK governments in 2000, it was involved in the first steps to develop the principles with the aid of non government organisations.
At Rio Tinto respect for human rights is expressed as a policy in the Group's statement of business practice The way we work. The policy is based on support for the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, respect for human rights provisions enshrined in the laws of countries where the Group operates, and rooted in the approach to local communities set out in the communities policy. That policy is based on the three basic principles of mutual respect, active partnership and long term commitment.
Rio Tinto managers use the principles set out in The way we work to develop practical responses to issues of security and human rights. They have done so since before the Group subscribed to the Voluntary Principles. In keeping with its devolved management philosophy, Rio Tinto does not conduct a Group wide security function based at headquarters; security is seen as part of the management job. Outcomes are reported to Group management in the same way as other aspects of business.
In April 2003 Rio Tinto published a revised version of The way we work, incorporating specific references to a number of points emerging from the Voluntary Principles. These included use of security personnel, guidelines and restrictions on the use of force, training, and ensuring that equipment and facilities are not misused. This was followed by the publication in October 2003 of a complementary document the Human rights guidance to provide direction for managers in the field on implementing the human rights policy.
The guidance is much more detailed than the policy. The guidance devotes one of its four main sections to security. It explicitly states that the guidance is drawn from the Voluntary Principles, to which it provides an electronic cross-reference. Rio Tinto has a number of mesures in place that seek to ensure that the Voluntary Principles are part of the day to day engagement of Rio Tinto staff at all levels wherever they work.
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