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Serious human rights abuses include all forms of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (e.g. beatings, threats, or rape). Other gross human rights violations and abuses include widespread sexual violence, war crimes, or other serious violations of international humanitarian law, crimes against humanity (e.g. mass executions, deportations, or the use of child soldiers), or genocide.

Procuring minerals from or providing payment or logistical assistance to armed groups or affiliates that illegally control or extort money or minerals at mine sites, along transportation routes, or at trading hubs. Armed groups may benefit from illegally controlling mine access, overseeing extraction, extorting intermediaries, or holding beneficial or other ownership interests in upstream companies or mines.

Public or private security forces contracted in the supply chain may be associated with serious human rights abuses, in their interactions with vulnerable groups, local communities, human rights defenders and local labour leaders, for instance due to use of excessive force, and/or use of inappropriate force on protected populations.

Child labor is any paid or unpaid work that is undertaken by a person under the age of 15, or the age for completing compulsory education, or the legal minimum age for employment in the country, whichever age is greatest. Further, any work that endangers a person under the age of 18 is considered hazardous child labor. Worst forms of child labour include slavery, child prostitution, use of children in criminal activities, and dangerous labour.

Respect communities’ right to safe and healthy living conditions, and prohibit the arbitrary or unlawful interference with a person’s privacy, family, home or correspondence and unlawful attacks on their reputation.

Respect of customs, practices, places, objects, artistic expressions and values. Respect the right of a group to be able to express and maintain their traditions or practices, including the right to access and enjoy cultural heritage.

Workers’ rights to fair and decent employment terms, including entitlement to work, hiring, remuneration, and working hours. This category includes discrimination and harassment and risks to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

Forced labor can be understood as work that is performed involuntarily and under the menace of any penalty. It refers to situations in which persons are coerced to work through the use of violence or intimidation, or by more subtle means such as manipulated debt, retention of identity papers or threats of denunciation to immigration authorities. Forced labor includes bonded labor or indentured labor, involuntary or exploitative prison labor, slavery or trafficking of persons.

Freedom of association implies respect for the right of employers and workers to freely and voluntarily establish and join organizations of their own choice, free from outside interference or monitoring.

Land acquisition and resettlement risk is the threat to the well-being, dignity, and livelihoods of people who are displaced from their homes, land, or sources of income due to development projects, often without adequate compensation, consultation, or support.

Indigenous Peoples’ rights refer to the collective and individual rights held by Indigenous peoples—those who are the original inhabitants of a particular region or territory—based on their unique historical, cultural, social, and political circumstances. Core aspects of Indigenous Peoples’ rights include self-determination, land, territory and resources, cultural rights, participation and consultation, non-discrimination and equality, protection from assimilation and destruction.

Occupational health and safety incidents and risks.

Bribery, corruption, anti-competitive behavior and fraud.

Violations of law and regulations applicable to the business, non-payment of other fees and royalties due to the government.

Non-compliance with legal obligations (permitting, licensing, etc); fines and convictions.

Money laundering is the process by which criminals disguise the illegal origin of the proceeds of criminal conduct by making such proceeds appear to have derived from a legitimate source. Money laundering in the mineral supply chain occurs when minerals purchased using the proceeds of crime are then reintroduced into the market. It also occurs when minerals are used as an alternative currency in illicit transactions, such as purchases of weapons or drugs. Trade-based money laundering involves techniques like over- and under-invoicing, phantom shipping, and multiple invoicing.

The potential environmental, social, financial, and operational hazards associated with the storage and handling of tailings—residual materials left after the extraction of valuable minerals from ore. Mismanagement can lead to catastrophic consequences, including tailings dam failures, environmental contamination, and loss of life.

Impacts on quality of water, water availability for human consumption and other economic activities, over-consumption and inefficient water use.

Loss of biodiversity or critical habitat, exploration or development of new projects in World Heritage Sites or in designated protected areas and their buffer zones.

Deforestation and forest degradation.

Absence of climate actions, use of energy sources, and production of emissions that contribute to climate change.

Lack of appropriate management of and dangerous exposure to hazardous materials

Physical instability refers to the structural failure or movement of landforms and man-made structures, such as pit walls, tailings dams, waste rock dumps, or slopes, due to excavation, blasting, or natural forces. Soil erosion is the removal of topsoil by wind, water, or human activity, accelerated by the disturbance of land during exploration, excavation, and waste disposal. Land degradation is the long-term decline in the quality, productivity, and ecological function of land due to mining activities, such as deforestation, soil contamination, and habitat destruction.

Release of pollutants in air, soil, land, water. Generation of unwanted or excessive sounds that have harmful effects on people and environment. This category includes environmental emergencies and spill response