§ Mr. ChidgeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his Department's policies are on(a) the upholding of human rights and (b) minimising the environmental impact in the course of diamond and uranium mining in African countries. [166490]
§ Mr. MacShaneExtractives industries (including diamonds and uranium) should br the engines of growth and development in countries endowed with significant mineral resources, but too often the sector is associated with conflicts and corruption that derail progress towards sustainable development and poverty reduction. We believe that companies are responsible for not acting in a way that impairs the human rights of their employees or of those on whom their activities have an impact, and should act in a way that promotes their enjoyment of human rights. We also believe companies should act in a way which contributes to environmental progress with a view to achieving sustainable development. For that reason, we are actively engaged in initiatives to improve governance, including environmental and social management of the330W sector, while recognising that regulation of these industries is the responsibility of the host governments concerned.
For example, the Government is a founding participant in the process to develop and promote the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights in the extractives sector. The Voluntary Principles are designed to provide practical guidance that will strengthen human rights safeguards in company security arrangements. The Government also actively promote the UN Global Compact and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, both of which promote principles of business behaviour designed to ensure respect for human rights and protection of the environment.