Mining, human rights and the socially responsible investment industry: considering community opposition to shareholder resolutions and implications of collaboration

Abstract

Canadian mining companies regularly face allegations of human rights abuses related to their global operations. This paper considers the human rights implications of responses by Canadian Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) firms to allegations of human rights abuses against mining companies whose shares they own, assess or recommend to clients. Shareholder resolutions are analysed in the light of recent opposition to implications of this corporate social responsibility vehicle by mining affected communities. The paper also explores consequences for community agency in defence of social and environmental values as a result of relationships that evolve between SRI firms and mining companies through collaborative undertakings. These issues are examined in the context of Goldcorp's Marlin mine in Guatemala. The paper concludes that a relationship Goldcorp entered into with SRI firms through a shareholder resolution led to a flawed human rights impact assessment process that was protective of the company's interests but harmed the ability of affected communities to defend their interests.