Human and Environmental Rights Monitoring of Chinese Mining Operations in SADC

Under its Business and Human Rights Programme, SARW is implementing a three-year project to generate balanced and credible evidence to inform policy and practice reforms to improve the Chinese mining companies’ human and environmental rights conduct in the SADC region.

The project identifies Chinese mining companies in Southern Africa and locates them geographically on an interactive map. The mapping will further Identify the resources they extract and determine reserves, capital investment and production levels. To ensure grassroots-based and community-driven monitoring, the project will set up an App on community rights monitors’ phones to record and share human rights abuses as they occur, complemented by geo-mapping technology.

The rights documentation will focus on the workers’ situation, including labour rights violations and quality of life issues for workers and family members. It will further investigate and document issues relating to the environmental impact of the mining operations. Investigation and documentation of issues relating to the impact of the mining operations on the surrounding community’s social and cultural rights will be done, as well as an understanding of supply chain linkages between mines and refiners/smelters in China.

Under its Business and Human Rights Programme, SARW is implementing a three-year project to generate balanced and credible evidence to inform policy and practice reforms to improve the Chinese mining companies’ human and environmental rights conduct in the SADC region.

The project will Identify Chinese mining companies in Southern Africa and locate them geographically on an interactive map. The mapping will further Identify the resources they extract and determine reserves, capital investment and production levels. To ensure grassroots-based and community-driven monitoring, the project will set up an App on community rights monitors’ phones to record and share human rights abuses as they occur, complemented by geo-mapping technology.

The rights documentation will focus on the workers’ situation, including labour rights violations and quality of life issues for workers and family members. It will further investigate and document issues relating to the environmental impact of the mining operations. Investigation and documentation of issues relating to the impact of the mining operations on the surrounding community’s social and cultural rights will be done, as well as an understanding of supply chain linkages between mines and refiners/smelters in China.