Abstract
Most Canadian companies operating overseas are constantly ignoring the issue of human rights of the communities in host countries. This is because of the absence of legislation that regulates the activities of subsidiaries of Canadian mining companies in host countries. The companies should include in their financial reports these societal costs to promote transparency.
Human Rights Issues
Corporate social responsibility reporting is key to establishing a good reputation of a company. Most Canadian companies operating overseas are constantly ignoring the issue of human rights of the communities in host countries. The companies infringe on human rights by allowing the following to happen: contaminating the water supply, evicting local communities by force out of land under dispute, disappearance and killings of human rights activists concerned with anti-mining, sexual assault of local women by the private security guards employed by these companies. The overseas communities are unable to force the Canadian companies to address their human rights concern. This is because of the absence of legislation that regulates the activities of subsidiaries of Canadian mining companies in host countries. This issues are critical because Canadian government has knowledge of these violations of human rights. The Canadian embassies in host countries have been informed about these social injustices. These social injustices happen in host countries, which are Brazil, Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, Ethiopia, Chile and Colombia.
Solutions
These companies need to be made accountable for their actions and legislation must be amended to ensure the activities of these companies overseas are controlled by the Canadian government. Strategies meant to improve corporate social responsibility and greater accountability are only voluntary and thus impose no legal liability on the company. The companies should promote liaison with their subsidiaries in implementing these principles in order to ensure they are not negligent and adhere to human right freedoms. The companies should also include in their financial reports these societal costs to promote transparency. This will help determine whether the companies are compliant to requirements of preserving and protecting human rights.
References
Gee, M. (2011, March 23). For Canadian companies overseas, a corporate heart of darkness. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=10801
Sarin, P. (2013, August 1). Canadian mining company may be held liable for human rights abuses committed abroad by its foreign subsidiaries. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from rabble.ca: http://rabble.ca/columnists/2013/08/canadian-mining-company-may-be-held-liable-human-rights-abuses-committed-abroad-i
Staff, H. (2013, November 7). Human rights commission targets Canada's mining work overseas. Retrieved November 11, 2013, from http://www.hazmatmag.com/news/human-rights-commission-targets-canadas-mining-work-overseas/1002707170/
