Ethics and Human Rights

Reflected in our values is respect for the rights of the people who work on our behalf and those who live in the communities near our operations. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and Human Rights Policy clearly show our support for the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and affirm our respect for human rights through our business conduct and management practices.

We respect the dignity of all people, along with their cultural traditions and values. Our fair labour practices include zero tolerance for forced, compulsory and child labour, and we work to prevent any infringement upon human rights within our sphere of influence.

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provides a blueprint for businesses that includes a public commitment, a due diligence process that assesses risks, and a process for providing remedy to anyone who is impacted. Concerns about human rights issues within our business can be reported via site grievance mechanisms or directly to our Board of Directors through our corporate website or third-party ethics hotline.

Respecting the human rights of neighbouring communities while providing a secure work environment and protecting our employees and contractors defines our security approach. The operations, projects and exploration sites where we employ security personnel apply the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (the VPs), which prioritize relationship building and provide a framework for maintaining safety and security within an operating context that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. All contracts with security services include a requirement to work within the VPs framework as well as the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials. In cases where we use public security personnel, we make every effort to ensure they are aware of and guided by these frameworks.