Talk summary:

Implementing an operational-level grievance mechanism is considered an effective remedy to address human rights violations that a business may commit. In accordance with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, these mechanisms can support the identification and remediation of adverse human rights violations. Barrick Gold Corporation, first through its affiliate Acacia Mining and then on its own, has managed an operational-level grievance mechanism to address the violence and other human rights violations alleged by local communities near its North Mara mine in Tanzania. Since its implementation, the mechanism has been criticized for falling short of international standards and failing to redress community grievances. This presentation will discuss the history and shortcomings of Barrick Gold’s grievance mechanism, with a particular focus on how corporate control over human rights violations at the mine has transformed elements of Tanzania’s approach to mining governance.

Bio:

Dr. Sara Ghebremusse is an Assistant Professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law. She writes, researches, and teaches in the areas of African mining, law and development, transnational law, and human rights. She has published in all these fields and has presented her research at conferences around the world. Dr. Ghebremusse is the Principal Investigator of a SSHRC Insight Development Grant-funded project examining how Canadian mining conflicts in Tanzania and Zambia have contributed to institutional transformation in the two countries. She has also supported the development of the Allard School of Law’s Executive Learning Program in Mining Law and Sustainability.