United Nations Implicates Nevsun Resources in Using Forced Labour

The latest round of allegations of the use of forced labour at Nevsun Resources’s (TSX:NSU) Bisha mine has come from the United Nations, according to Mining Weekly. The news outlet reported that the UN had commissioned a report on conditions at the mine following a lawsuit filed against the company on November 20.

As quoted in the publication:

According to the report, a Human Rights Council inquiry commission heard one of the witnesses testify that after being raped and tortured by Eritrean military personnel, she was asked where she was working. When she showed her ‘Nevsun’ company identification card, they released her and apologised, saying it was a mistake.

Nevsun was busy implementing at Bisha the recommendations of an independent human rights impact assessment it had commissioned in 2013 and published in April last year.

Nevsun, the largest and only foreign mining company paying royalties and taxes to the Eritrean treasury, had to date paid more than $85-million to the Eritrea government, which the UN accused of being party to systematic, widespread and gross human rights violations.

Nevsun responded to the news in a press release issued Tuesday. Nevsun CEO, Cliff Davis, said:

A recent United Nations Commission report included some sensational and unbelievable human rights allegations with respect to the Bisha Mine, which allegations were made without visiting either the mine or the country. Despite attempts by Nevsun to engage with the Commission, it chose not to engage with the Company to verify any basic facts or allegations or to report on the Company’s independent human rights assessment. This brings into serious question the methodology, process and collation of information in their report. Nevsun remains firmly committed to compliance with Eritrean national law and the continuation of international standards and practices with respect to human rights. We also remain committed to dialogue with the Commission, other UN agencies and stakeholder groups.

Click here to read the full article from Mining Weekly.

Click here to read the full Nevsun Resources (TSX:NSU) press release.