Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia – Bruce Harvey, Rio Tinto Global Practice leader in charge of community relations and social issues, participated in the international Mining Business and Human Rights Conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 10 October, 2012.
“As Mongolia has vast experience and a delicate history in respecting human rights we have much to learn from its legacy and lessons. Rio Tinto employees, their families, local partner organisations, contracted entities, suppliers, and consumers are protected and secured in accordance with the UN Universal Human Right Declaration. Guarding human rights is an indispensable component of everyday activities for Oyu Tolgoi” said Bruce in his speech.
He continued “It is crucial to have a systematic approach toward complicated issues relevant to culture and traditions of a given country in addition to global human rights standards. Therefore, Rio Tinto developed and printed ‘Why human rights matter’ handout dedicated for all employees”.
The guideline gives a detailed explanation on human rights from a legal point, constraints and barriers faced due to violation of rights, the importance of supporting community from a human rights viewpoint and ways about how to comply current methods with international standards.
The Rio Tinto, apart from complying with its own policies, strictly follows the laws and legislation of any given projects in the host countries.
About Oyu Tolgoi LLC (http://en.ot.mn/)
Oyu Tolgoi LLC is Mongolia's largest copper and gold mining company and is a strategic partnership between the Government of Mongolia (34 per cent stake), Turquoise Hill Resources (66 per cent) and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto is the major shareholder in Turquoise Hill Resources and the manager of the Oyu Tolgoi project. In addition to dividends from its 34 per cent stake in Oyu Tolgoi, the Government of Mongolia will receive taxes and royalties.
Oyu Tolgoi, located in the Gobi desert in southern Mongolia, will be one of the largest and highest-grade copper and gold mines in the world. It is the largest project ever developed in Mongolia, requiring a capital investment for phase 1 of more than US$6 billion.
Oyu Tolgoi is committed to contributing to a sustainable future for Mongolia. At least 9 out of 10 employees will be Mongolian once the mine is in production and Oyu Tolgoi is investing US$58 million dollars (78 billion MNT) in training and education and an additional US$27 million dollars (36 billion MNT) in the Workforce Employment Project designed to help address the general skills shortage in Mongolia
Oyu Tolgoi's key priorities are the health and safety of employees, best-practice environmental management, contributing to sustainable communities and always doing business with integrity, for the benefit of all the project's shareholders and the people of Mongolia.
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