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Destruction of property near a mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Lead NCPBelgium
Supporting NCP(s)None Selected
DescriptionSpecific instance notified by the NGOs the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Action contre l’Impunité pour les Droits de l’Homme (ACIDH), and Rights & Accountability in Development (RAID) regarding the activities of the Forrest Group in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Theme(s)Concepts and principles, Human rights
Date4 Apr 2012
Host country(ies)Democratic Republic of the Congo
SourceNGO
Industry sectorMining and quarrying
StatusConcluded
Summary

In April 2012 the Belgian NCP received a request for review from the NGOs the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Action contre l’Impunité pour les Droits de l’Homme (ACIDH), Rights & Accountability in Development (RAID) alleging that Compagnie Minière du Sud Katanga (CMSK) or Entreprise Générale Malta Forrest (EGMF), subsidiary companies of the Forrest Group, had breached the general policies and human rights provisions of the Guidelines in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It was alleged that the mining operations at Luiswishi mine were responsible for the destruction of property in the villages of Kawama and Lukuni-gare which occurred when the police organised an operation to halt clandestine artisanal mining activities.

The NCP met three times with the parties. In its final statement (in French) issued on 12 February 2013 concluding the specific instance, the NCP noted that all governmental efforts to remedy the situation and reimburse the loss of property had remained without result. The NCP had obtained agreement from the Rachel Forrest Foundation, Forrest Group's humanitarian association, to repair a well, the school and the pharmacy. However this offer was rejected by the inhabitants of the villages as inadequate.

In concluding the specific instance, the NCP called on the Forrest Group to realise the social measures proposed for the benefit of the local population.