Why gender matters - Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining ...

How to – Summary
Summary
It is important to acknowledge the challenges we face as a company in
working towards integrating gender into project and programme development
and implementation, at all stages of mine life. We must continue to focus on
integrating gender considerations into our engagement processes, as well as
into the four key stages of our Communities work.
In summary this includes:
Inclusive engagement: Our first
goal is to engage inclusively,
which means recognising the
diversity in the socio-economic
and political situations of the
various groups which comprise
a community.
Know and understand: From the
outset, we should seek to build our
knowledge and understanding of:
– gender roles and responsibilities;
– differences in women’s and
men’s access to and control
of resources;
– women’s and men’s practical
and strategic gender related
needs; and
– the potential for Rio Tinto’s
activities to impact on any of
the above, positively or negatively.
Plan and implement: Once we
understand more about gender
roles and responsibilities, access
to and control over resources,
practical and strategic gender
needs, as well as the potential
for Rio Tinto activities to impact
on these considerations, we
must plan to avoid or mitigate
adverse impacts. We must look
for opportunities to maximise
benefits, including within
multi-year communities plans,
programme level plans and
within other types of operational
policies, plans and activities.
Monitor, evaluate and improve:
Accurate and reliable data
and information to enable the
measurement of change, positive or
negative, is essential. Much of this
is dependent on good engagement
and consultation, a core principle
of a gendered approach.
Report and communicate:
Reporting and communicating
performance internally and
externally, including on gender,
is important for transparency and
as a way to invite feedback and
dialogue. This feedback will help
guide our formal and informal
decision making processes
which will in turn contribute to
improving our social performance
and contributions.
Within all our projects and
operations – mines and smelters
alike – and across all functional
areas, we must rise to the
challenge of integrating gender.
Attention needs to be paid to
gender to ensure we do not worsen
relationships, or create new
inequalities, between men and
women in the communities in
which we work, and that we strive
to create lasting, equitable and
positive impacts.
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