Consultation
Consultation, site visits and the dissemination of information about our operations are the basis on which a shared understanding with local communities is developed. They are also the means by which a business can gain assurance that its community relations programmes and initiatives are meeting community needs and priorities. It is through open, two way consultation that broad understanding and support for our operations is secured in affected communities.
Furthermore, it is through consultation with affected communities we are able to understand and monitor the effects of our operations. What is important is that those in affected communities have a reliable mechanism for bringing issues of concern and interest to our attention. At some operations, this might mean formal, regular meetings with minutes signed by all participants. At other operations this mechanism might be a mail or website based feedback system.
Some Rio Tinto operations regularly carry out opinion surveys to gauge community perceptions and sentiment towards the operation. At all Rio Tinto operations there are a combination of consultation activities that are tailored to fit the context, and ensure that the effects of our operations are understood.
Case studies
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