Papua New Guinea: New report raises allegations of human rights violations by Rio Tinto & Bougainville Copper Ltd in Panguna
A report published by the Human Rights Law Centre raises allegations of unaddressed destruction by Rio Tinto and its subsidiary, Bougainville Copper Limited (BCL), in Panguna, Bougainville, Papua New Guinea involving: (1) the infringement of peoples' right to life, as people have died, or been placed in life-threatening situations; (2) the effects on peoples' right to health as the mine's operation caused illnesses and malnutrition; (3) the mine's waste and pollution has violated the people's right to water; (4) the loss of arable lands and the inadequate and inappropriate relocation facilities violated the people's right to food and housing; (5) the destruction of cemeteries and sacred sites undermined the people's cultural rights; and (6) the infringement of rights and health of women and children.
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Rio Tinto and BCL to respond to the allegations in the report. The companies' responses are linked below.