ATTAC & FoE Sweden vs. Sandvik
Case overview
| Date filed | 18 February 2003 |
|---|---|
| Current status | Concluded |
| Issue | Gold mining, pollution, rights violations in Ghana |
| Summary of the case | This case concerns pollution and human rights violations in gold mining industry in Ghana. Sandvik is a Swedish company which supplies mining equipment and services for mining companies. It has provided equipment and services to Ashanti Goldfields Company (AGC) in Ghana during ten years. It has its own personnel on site in the mines and in the minefield areas. AGC has been accused of repeatedly violating human and environmental rights and standards. NGOs have charged that AGC has forcibly evicted, persecuted and killed local villagers, destroyed villages and destroyed water and agricultural land by discharging cyanide and other heavy metals. The complaint states that given the 10-year relationship Sandvik has with AGC, including having a physical presence in Ghana, the company bears responsibility for AGC’s harmful activities. |
| Developments/Outcome | The parties met with the NCP twice. In the second meeting, the companies refused to participate in a dialogue and instead only presented their reports and position. In June 2002, the NCP released a statement that recognized that environmental and social problems exist in Ghana’s mining sector, but said the companies’ role in this case was limited. The NCP’s statement concluded the companies have not failed to comply with the Guidelines, but encouraged them to inform their subsidiaries and staff in Ghana on the Guidelines. The statement referred to the existence of an established regulatory framework and judicial institutions to tackle these problems. However, the NCP also acknowledged that these processes and institutions wrestle with difficulties normally associated with developing countries such as insufficient resources and capacity. The complainants recommended three concrete steps that they wished the NCP had taken, including establishing a rough time-plan and date for the first dialogue meeting between the parties. The NGOs also inquired why the Guidelines’ human rights provision was not applicable and why the NCP did not comment on this issue in its statement. The NCP responded stating the case was closed and it was not necessary to continue the process. |
| Relevant OECD Guidelines |
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| Case keywords | Chaîne d’approvisionnement, Secteur minier, Les expulsions forcées et la réinstallation, Les droits de l'homme, Travail forcé, Environnement, Divulgation de renseignements |
NCP Information
| NCP name | National Contact Point Sweden |
|---|---|
| NCP address | Gustav Adolfs Torg 1 103 33 Stockholm, Sweden |
| NCP website | http://www.regeringen.se/sb/d/1475 |
| Other NCPs involved |
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Complainants
| ONG |
|---|
Company Information
| Company responsible | Sandvik AB |
|---|---|
| Company address | P.O. Box SE-811 81 Sandviken Sweden |
| Company website | http://www.sandvik.com/ |
| Company in violation | Ashanti Goldfields Co Ltd |
| Country of operations | Ghana |
| Other companies involved |
Timeline of developments
Some developments are only visible to logged in users.
| Date | Actor | Action | Description | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 June 2003 | National Contact Point Sweden | statement | The NCP issued a final statement. | download pdf (14Kb) |
| 25 February 2003 | National Contact Point Sweden | accept | The Swedish NCP accepted the case. | |
| 18 February 2003 | ATTAC Sweden | file | Complaint filed with the Swedish NCP. |
