Security and human rights

We believe that effective security controls, standards, policies and procedures contribute to the safety and protection of our employees and the communities in which we operate.

Operating in some areas of Tanzania requires ABG, as well as the Tanzanian Government and the local communities, to deal with law and order issues. A number of these issues have been related to specific events such as instability in areas at the time of elections, while others are longer term challenges such as trespass and vandalism by intruders seeking to unlawfully take gold and other property from our operations. These challenges vary depending on the location of the operation and other circumstances. ABG has implemented, and continues to identify, alternatives to manage these security issues in a manner that places at its heart the safety and security of people, property and assets.

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Our approach to security

ABG employs both internal and external security staff and works with the government and our local communities. Since 2008, we have introduced a comprehensive security management system with continuous training programmes in place at all our sites. This system forms part of our overall Security Framework, which contains our processes and procedures for security management, incident reporting and investigations. This framework applies to all of our operations and must be followed by all ABG employees.

Human rights

The ‘Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights’ are central to our security management system. These are a set of guidelines by which companies in the extractive sector can maintain the safety and security of their operations within an operating framework that ensures respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Our majority shareholder, Barrick Gold Corporation, is a signatory participant. Our security management system is aligned to this commitment and to respecting human rights and the fundamental freedom of individuals overall. For these purposes:

  • all our security employees and contractors receive training and regular refresher courses in our security management systems (including human rights and use-of-force training).
  • our security personnel’s use-of-force procedure complies with the Voluntary Principles, something which has been validated by experts and shared with international human rights groups.
  • security personnel are required to comply at all times with all ABG policies, including our Code of Conduct and our specific Security Code of Conduct.
  • we work continuously to create an environment that is safe for our people and communities as a whole.

We have entered into memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the Tanzanian police force for the provision of police force patrols in the general area surrounding our mines. Generally, police are only called upon to enter our sites in the case of emergency where police assistance is required to maintain law and order; otherwise access is restricted. In all cases, the MoUs require the police to comply with all relevant laws and international enforcement principles, including the Voluntary Principles. In addition, the police are specifically required to receive human rights training before being assigned to any of our mine sites.

To our knowledge, ABG is the first and only private company to comprehensively engage with senior Tanzanian government officials and local law enforcement agencies to encourage and support the provision of Voluntary Principles training to these agencies and the adherence to international human rights norms.

Progress in 2012

  • Completing enhancements to security systems across all ABG operations
  • Increasing training on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights across ABG stakeholders
  • Progressing implementation of our human rights compliance programme

Priorities for 2013

  • Maintaining training levels on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights
  • Progressing dialogue on law and order, particularly at North Mara, with our wider stakeholder group

Case Study: Working towards effective conflict management

In 2011 we established a partnership with Search for Common Ground, an internationally recognised NGO in the field of conflict resolution, to help strengthen trust and improve collaboration between ABG operations and local communities in the context of conflict management, particularly at North Mara. The ultimate objective of our partnership is to find culturally appropriate ways to constructively deal with conflicts in order to mitigate conflict escalation. SFCG use a number of methods of community engagement in order to progress understanding of conflict resolutions.

In addition to general community training programmes, SFCG’s activities include youth conflict training management sessions aimed at younger members of communities, which focus on the dangers of illegal mining and mine site intrusions; and training sessions specifically for women, focused on identifying pertinent issues such as harassment and other unacceptable actions against women. Other engagement tools include the creation and distribution of educational materials, such as comics, to discuss topics including the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, UN guidelines on use of force by law enforcement officials, universal human rights and sexual harassment. SFCG also uses theatre productions in order to highlight conflict scenarios in context and sporting activities, such as football tournaments involving players from local communities, the authorities and members of the ABG workforce, which aim to build relations and teamwork.

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