Human Rights
As the world's largest diversified natural resources company, we have potential exposure to human rights-related issues that may present us with challenges. Nevertheless, upholding people's fundamental rights in our day-to-day business is paramount.
New operations or projects must have broad-based community support before proceeding with development. Free Prior and Informed Consent is only required where it is mandated by law.
All our operations are required to have a risk-based human rights assessment undertaken by a qualified, independent specialist to identify and document key potential human rights exposures. In regions where risks exist, the operations are also required to have a management plan in place and to ensure that employees and contractors receive training to facilitate compliance with BHP Billiton's human rights commitments.
During FY2009, 32 sites reported that they had undertaken human rights training. The training was delivered to 11,226, or 27 per cent, of employees (FY2008: 11,900) and 15,523, or 27 per cent, of contractors (FY2008: 14,200). In addition, 49 sites currently have cultural awareness programs in place. Thirty-nine of our sites reported having employed security forces, and 32 of these sites advised that these forces have undertaken human rights training.
In instances where resettlement is unavoidable, a resettlement plan, timetable and budget, consistent with the requirements of the World Bank Operational Directive on Involuntary Resettlement must be developed and implemented in consultation with the relevant government and displaced people.
No significant human rights-related issues were identified in this reporting period. There were no reported community resettlements.
Resettlement
There were no reported community resettlements in FY2009. BHP Billiton requires any involuntary resettlement to be undertaken in accordance with the World Bank Operational Directive on Involuntary Resettlement.
The objectives of the World Bank's directive are the following:
- Involuntary resettlement should be avoided where feasible, or minimised, exploring all viable alternative project designs.
- Where it is not feasible to avoid resettlement, resettlement activities should be conceived and executed as sustainable development programs, providing sufficient investment resources to enable the persons displaced by the project to share in the project benefits. Displaced persons should be meaningfully consulted and should have opportunities to participate in planning and implementing resettlement programs.
- Displaced persons should be assisted in their efforts to improve their livelihoods and standards of living, or at least to restore them, in real terms, to pre-displacement levels or to levels prevailing prior to the beginning of project implementation, whichever is higher.
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
In September 2007, 143 countries voted in support of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is a non-binding declaration primarily directed at governments, not the private sector. It covers a wide range of issues of importance to Indigenous peoples and is designed to ensure that countries respect and protect their rights. Where countries have enacted laws to give effect to the Declaration and have provided the framework for its implementation, BHP Billiton will, of course, commit to abide by them. Where countries have not enacted such laws, our Policies and Standards are designed to ensure that we nonetheless work with Indigenous peoples to try to understand their interests and aspirations, respect their rights and seek broad-based support for our operations.
