Range of human rights abuses by extractive companies allegedly tied to European financial institutions: companies respond to Facing Finance report
"The global extractives industry is heavily involved in some of the worst labour, environmental and human rights violations. The rights of communities, farmers and indigenous people are being trampled in the push for ever more extraction. Indeed all businesses must respect and contribute to the society where they operate, and investors too have a critical role to play, particularly in the current mining upturn.
In Dirty Profits 6 Facing Finance shows how extractive companies have dealt with human rights and environmental violations shown in Dirty Profits reports since 2012, as well as how selected European banks have reacted to these violations in their provision of finance over time."
Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited 10 extractive companies and 10 banks mentioned in the report to respond - the following 18 companies responded:
- Anglo American
- Barrick Gold
- BHP Billiton
- Eni SpA
- Glencore
- Goldcorp
- Rio Tinto
- Vale
- Barclays
- BNP Paribas
- Credit Agricole
- Credit Suisse
- Deutsche Bank
- DZ Bank
- HSBC
- ING
- Rabobank
- UBS
Gazprom and Grupo Mexico did not respond.
Concerns are related to human rights impacts including labour rights, environmental pollution, indigenous rights, land rights, intimidation of project opponents, and violence including rape and murder by security forces at project sites.