Regulation, rights and remedy - the extractive sector and development

Date: 14 March 2012
Time: 6.30pm - 8.00pm
Venue: White & Case, 5 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1DW

The Responsible Business group is delighted to invite Katherine Tyler, 9-12 Bell Yard Chambers, Rachel Chambers, Cloisters Chambers, and Joseph Croft, Stakeholder Democracy Network, to speak at our first meeting of 2012.

The extraction of oil, gas and minerals often takes place in remote, under-developed areas and countries where governance and regulation are weak. Calls for greater industry regulation has led to a proliferation of codes of conduct and domestic and international obligations which now regulate extractive operations. Corporations are required not only to minimise their harmful impact on the environment and communities affected by operations but also to promote the development of the country in which they operate.

Katherine and Rachel will consider some of the different methods of regulating the behaviour of extractive corporations when they operate in weak governance zones: they will describe the increased standards of due diligence and accountability, and will review both the grievance mechanisms available to claimants and the recent litigation trend.

Joseph will approach the issue from the perspective of communities, looking at how, if properly regulated, extractive companies can promote development, and how community members are collectivising their bargaining power to ensure that companies remedy harmful effects and operate responsibly so that a country’s natural resource wealth can benefit all.

To listen to the recording of this event, please click here.

For details of A4ID's other events, please click on this link. 

Speakers

Katherine Tyler is a barrister at 9-12 Bell Yard where she specialises in criminal law, public international law and human rights. Katherine has advised NGOs on the financial reporting obligations of extractive industry companies and the potential for this to encompass human rights due diligence.

Rachel Chambers is a barrister at Cloisters where she specialises in employment and discrimination law and human rights. Rachel was a Research Fellow at Monash University, Melbourne investigating holding companies accountable for human rights violations.

Joseph Croft heads Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) an NGO which supports those worst affected by the activities of extractive industries in the Niger Delta. SDN works with community members to collectivise their bargaining power in order to prove that peaceful action is the best chance for a prosperous and stable Niger Delta.