The Rev Leon Sullivan's Principles, originally initiated in 1977 as a code of conduct for companies operating in South Africa. An entirely new globally applicable set of principles was developed in 1999, as a major platform for supporting economic, social and political justice by companies where they do business, including human rights and the encouragement of equal opportunity at all levels of employment.

Rio Tinto has adopted and supports the Principles and was one of nine core members working with the Rev Sullivan and his staff on the guidelines. Rio Tinto also participated in developing a secretariat to service, promote and collate reporting under the Principles.

The main points of the Principles are to:

• support universal human rights, particularly those of employees and communities;
• promote equal opportunity for employees at all levels;
• respect employees' voluntary freedom of association;
• compensate employees to enable them to meet basic needs;
• provide a safe and healthy workplace;
• promote fair competition;
• work with communities and governments to improve the quality of life; and
• promote the Principles with those with whom we do business.

Rio Tinto is able to support the Principles because our business practices as set out in The way we work cover the same ground.