Goldcorp Updates Its Human Rights Policy

Dec 10, 2015 6:45 PM ET

Above Ground

At Goldcorp, we believe in acting ethically and respecting all of our stakeholders, everywhere we have operations.

Our goal is to become a respected member in the communities where we operate, by building strong partnerships through active engagement and making positive social and economic contributions to those communities. We recognize that our mining operations impact the surrounding areas, and we are committed to acting responsibly and minimizing those impacts wherever possible. For us, that also means providing sustainable business opportunities to the communities and stakeholders that are affected by our operations, and together with our partners, creating social impacts that have the greatest potential to affect long-term positive community outcomes by supporting things like healthcare, education and community development efforts. We also believe that having clear policies and practices around human rights will help us execute this strategy.

In 2015, we updated our Human Rights Policy to reflect the changing social context in which we operate. Our revised policy better defines Goldcorp’s good business practices as well as our external commitments to the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) and the World Gold Council’s Conflict Free Gold Standard.

New additions to this policy include clauses on community consultation, grievance mechanisms, commitment to the Conflict Free Gold Standard, resettlement planning, and potential measures in the event of non-compliance. Training on our Human Rights Policy will be available to all of our workforce and is scheduled to begin in 2016.

As a member of the ICMM and the UNGC, we support the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and have integrated the principles into Goldcorp’s Sustainability Excellence Management System (SEMS). As part of our SEMS Standards, each site must integrate human rights into their business practices, which includes upholding fundamental human rights and respecting local cultures, customs and values.

By affirming Goldcorp’s commitment to respect human rights through our new policy, we can address the rising expectations of our stakeholders and seek constructive dialogue and partnerships with those who are impacted by our activities. If we continue acting with integrity and demonstrate respect in the way we conduct ourselves, we will continue to achieve our vision of Together, Creating Sustainable Value.

To view Goldcorp’s Human Rights Policy, please click here.

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