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Article

25 Apr 2013

Author:
Emma Wilson, International Institute for Environment and Development, in Guardian [UK]

How to solve conflicts between business and the wider community?

[E]xtractive industry companies are starting to see the business case for setting up their own formal grievance mechanisms to help prevent conflict with local citizens and mediate conflict when it does occur…Ruggie's 'Protect, Respect and Remedy' framework identifies the need for governments to protect human rights, for business to respect those rights, and for adequate forms of remedy, such as company-community grievance mechanisms…[Some mining companies] have implemented grievance mechanisms based on existing community structures and respect for traditional conflict resolution approaches…In the oil and gas sector, efforts beyond the formal grievance mechanism have served to build dialogue and resolve issues…Local people need to have a sense of ownership over the grievance mechanism…A sensitivity to the underlying importance of respecting community views and acting on their concerns is a good start. There is increasing evidence to convince companies of all sizes that good community relations are a fundamental part of doing business…[Refers to BP, Congolaise Industrielle des Bois, Newmont Mining, TVIRD]