"To examine global redress models by resource companies for impacts against First Nations peoples", 10 July 2025

A new report concludes that human violations against Indigenous Peoples by mining companies are rife, and calls for "a new deal ... that centres on justice, truth-telling, accountability, and shared power".

The report's key findings are:

1. "A persistent power imbalance between mining companies and Indigenous communities. Indigenous Peoples' rights to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) are routinely denied or diluted, especially in countries with weak governance. While miners increasingly reference FPIC in policy, few implement it meaningfully. Power asymmetry continues to undermine equitable negotiations and access to redress.
2. Human rights abuses and environmental harm are systemic and global - not isolated incidents. From Madagascar to Brazil, Colombia to Canada, the report identifies cases of forced displacement, water contamination, health crises, cultural destruction, and even deaths. These are not “bad apples” but structural problems within the industry.
3. There is a “say-do” gap between corporate commitments and on-the-ground realities. Despite polished public reports and voluntary standards, miners often fail to deliver meaningful benefits to communities. Remedies are inconsistent, grievance mechanisms lack independence, and trust is critically low. An overemphasis on reputation management over transparency deepens the problem.
4. Access to remedy and justice is often illusory. Legal and non-judicial pathways are frequently inaccessible, ineffective, or underfunded. Remedy typically comes only after protracted struggle or litigation. Barriers include poor state enforcement, legal complexity, and fear of retaliation.
5. Effective models of redress exist - but require political will and structural reform. Tripartite agreements in Chile, Indigenous-majority clean energy projects in Canada, and IRMA’s mining standards offer promising pathways. These models prioritize Indigenous agency, rely on independent oversight, and foster long-term investment in community wellbeing."