Mining, conflict & abuse

British mining companies are making huge profits in situations of conflict and human rights violations

© Panos; Rob Huibers, Photographer

The global mining industry is enjoying an unprecedented boom period, with many companies posting record profits as a result of soaring commodity prices. The UK is doing particularly well: the three largest mining companies in the world are all British, while London provides much of the finance for the industry as well as hosting a major share of global metals trading. The British government has regularly championed the cause of British mining companies across the world.

Many developing countries, on the other hand, have experienced the negative side of mining. Armed groups have often enriched themselves through minerals extraction, doing deals with companies and using the revenues to fuel civil wars. Human rights violations have occurred where security forces paid to protect mining assets have attacked local communities and anti-mining activists. There is now an established pattern in country after country where local people have been forced off their land by mining projects, and those protesting have been intimidated, beaten or shot.

War on Want believes that the UK government must acknowledge the harm being done to local communities in developing countries as a result of British mining companies' activities. Relying on voluntary codes of conduct and self-regulation to police the extractives industry has been shown to be ineffective, and the government must now take action to make mining companies accountable both nationally and globally. War on Want calls on the UK government to introduce new rights of redress in the UK and to support binding standards for corporate accountability at the international level. Only through such action will we be able to tackle corporate complicity and human rights abuses.