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Article

1 Feb 2016

Author:
UK NCP (United Kingdom National Contact Point)

RAID & ENRC: Final Statement after Examination of Complaint - UK National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises

The UK NCP examined a complaint by the NGO Rights and Accountability in Development (RAID) about ENRC’s conduct as the owner and business partner of companies holding mining concessions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The complaint alleged that ENRC’s conduct did not meet voluntary obligations for responsible business conduct set out in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. Based on the information examined, the UK NCP considers that ENRC has not engaged effectively with two stakeholder communities on the concessions, and has not taken adequate steps to address impacts on the communities that arise from delays in taking forward mining projects. Because of this, the UK NCP finds that the company has not met obligations under the OECD Guidelines. Specifically, its conduct is inconsistent with provisions in Chapter II that address companies’ engagement with host communities: Paragraph 1 (contribution to economic, environmental and social progress), Paragraph 3 (encouraging local capacity building), and Paragraph 14 (engaging with stakeholders). The UK NCP also finds that the company’s conduct has not met obligations under Chapter II about companies’ business relationships: Paragraph 12 (preventing adverse impacts of business partners), and Paragraph 13 (encouraging business partners to apply Guidelines standards). One of the impacts that is not adequately addressed is a threat to the security of community access to safe drinking water. The right to safe water is a human right recognised under Chapter IV of the OECD Guidelines...The UK NCP recommends that ENRC takes steps:...to use its influence to ensure that site security management includes measures that assure continuing unrestricted community access to the water supply provided in 2007-08.

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