Golden Star Resources, a Ghana-focused mining company has published an update of its human rights policy as a prerequisite to fulfil key expectations from investor Ratings Agencies.
According to Golden Star Resources, this qualifies as a key objective for the update of its policy on human rights, notwithstanding other important objectives outlined.
This follows after an engagement with stakeholders in 2020. Therefore, leading the company to take a holistic review of its Policy on Human Rights to come up with a more up-to-date policy.
As a result of this engagement, the company therefore resolved to enhance the alignment of its human rights policy to internationally recognized standards and the World Gold Council’s Responsible Gold Mining Principles.
The updated policy includes new and more specific commitments towards the support of the International Bill of Rights which includes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also seeks to promote the tenets of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Moreover, the Company outlines its commitment to uphold Labour Organization Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Key objectives for update of Policy
By this action, Golden Star Resources does not renege on its commitment to best practices to align with the UN Global Compact, the main framework for supporting the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
In 2005, Golden Star, with the approval of its Board of Directors, wrote to the UN Secretary General and committed to adopting the UN Global Compact. The Compact is, first and foremost, concerned with exhibiting and building the social legitimacy of business and markets.
More so, it presents a framework for businesses to align their operations and strategies with universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption.
The Company noted that this newly updated human rights policy is an intentional effort to integrate the human rights elements incorporated in the Global International Standard for Tailings Management.
Furthermore, Golden Star Resources Ltd also assured that this step aligned with the company’s culture and values. In essence, the updated human rights policy establishes a platform to extend its strategy on providing a safe, inclusive and rewarding work environment.
Andrew Murray, the Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star Resources Limited opined:
“Robust corporate governance mechanisms are essential for generating long-term sustainable value for our stakeholders. As outlined in our 2020 Corporate Responsibility Report, a review and subsequent update of our Policy on Human Rights was one of our key objectives for sustainable governance in 2021.
“The launch of our enhanced policy, coinciding with the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, is an important milestone in our roadmap towards greater inclusion and diversity.
“These new commitments reflect our vision of becoming a sustainable diversified mining company that all our stakeholders are proud to be associated with and, are underpinned by behaviors that align with our values of fairness, collaboration, caring, honesty and respect.”
Andrew Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Star Resources
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