Barrick Gold Makes Remedy Victims of Violence and Rape in Papua New Guinea and Tanzania Conditional on Legal Immunity

Since January, 2013, MiningWatch Canada has raised concern about the fact that Barrick Gold is seeking legal immunity from victims of rape by mine security guards at the company’s Porgera Joint Venture Mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG). If these survivors accept an individual "remedy" package they must sign a waiver that assures Barrick that they will never sue the company in PNG or anywhere else in the world.

We have engaged the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights (UNHCHR) on this issue. In December 2013 we discovered a similar program for victims of rape and violence at African Barrick Gold’s North Mara Mine in Tanzania. We call on Barrick to provide greater transparency on the North Mara program for victims of the mines security guards and police.

• UN OHCHR Opinion: Allegations regarding the Porgera Joint Venture remedy framework
• Letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of September 4, 2013
• Letter to Barrick Gold regarding non-judicial “remedy programs” at ...