Departamento encuestado: Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
The government of Ghana has not yet responded to the questionnaire. We continue to welcome its response - please contact [email protected]
¿Su gobierno ha adoptado alguna iniciativa para reducir los impactos negativos de las empresas en los derechos humanos que usted considere particularmente exitosa? Por favor indique uno o más ejemplos al respecto.
Yes. On July 21, 2009 the Government of Ghana set up under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) a six-member Committee to study the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice Report on: “The State of Human Rights in Mining Communities in Ghana", (2008) to advise on the implementation of recommendations of the report. MEST set up a panel on the spill/discharge of water containing sodium cyanide by Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) at the Kenyasi-Ahafo South Project (The panel recommended payment of compensation by NGGL). A Panel constituted by MEST in December, 2009 investigated the spillage of low toxicity oil based mud by Kosmos Energy, Ghana in the Jubilee Field, Offshore.
¿Qué departamento o departamentos tienen una responsabilidad significativa respecto a las empresas y los derechos humanos dentro de su gobierno?
- Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST)
- Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources
- Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ)
¿Su gobierno ha promovido nuevas iniciativas en el tema de empresas y derechos humanos, o ha fortalecido las ya existentes, desde la aprobación de los Principios Rectores de las Naciones Unidas en junio de 2011?
Yes. The Government of Ghana supported CHRAJ in July 2014 to organize three workshops on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The workshops were jointly organized by CHRAJ, Shift and SOMO. Shift is an independent non-profit centre for business and human rights practice, chaired by Prof. John Ruggie. SOMO is the Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, a global non-governmental organization based in the Netherlands. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is also working towards implementation of the Voluntary principles of security and human rights.
¿Cuáles son los cinco principales temas de derechos humanos en los que las pueden tener impacto, sobre los que su gobierno ha tomado medidas?
Top five priority issues:
- Health (including environmental health, workplace health & safety)
- Forced labour & trafficking
- Access to water
- Abuses linked to security for company operations (e.g.: torture & ill-treatment)
- Impacts on children, including child labour
Medidas en materia de salud
The Constitutional, legislation and policies promote and protect, among other things, environmental health, workplace health & safety, which are also well protected by an active and vibrant trade unions.
Medidas en materia de trabajo forzoso y trata de personas
Forced labour & trafficking are prohibited by law.
Medidas en materia de acceso al agua
Access to water: especially in rural communities is expanding across the country.
Medidas en materia de relaciones con empresas de seguridad
It appears abuses linked to security for company operations (e.g.: torture & ill-treatment) have reduced, with companies now improving communications with local communities. Majority of companies take their corporate social responsibility seriously.
Medidas en materia de niños y niñas
Child labour is prohibited.
¿Su gobierno ha adoptado un Plan de Acción Nacional sobre las empresas y los derechos humanos como lo recomienda el Consejo de los Derechos Humanos de las Naciones Unidas y el Grupo de Trabajo sobre la Cuestión de los derechos humanos y las empresas transnacionales y otras empresas, o lo hará en el futuro?
No. But the Government is working towards the adoption of a country action plan on the VPs instead. It is foreseeable that a country action plan will be adopted. The foundation has been laid in July 2014 by organizing three workshops on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights aimed towards implementation of the Guidelines.
Si su gobierno ha adoptado un Plan Nacional de Acción o está planeando adoptar uno, por favor destaque si hace referencia a las normas internacionales de derechos humanos y si se adoptaron bajo consulta con las partes interesadas y afectadas.
The foundation laid in July, 2014 jointly by CHRAJ/ Shift and SOMO promises a national action plan based on the relevant international human rights instruments for Business and Human Rights as well as the VPs.
¿Qué pasos se han dado para desarrollar nuevos mecanismos de reparación judiciales o administrativos o para limitar los obstáculos que presentan actualmente los mecanismos de reparación para las víctimas?
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is seriously promoted by the Judiciary. A court connected ADR is implemented in the courts in Ghana. The commercial courts also allow arbitration before parties resort to adversarial litigation. In addition, CHRAJ receives approximately 12,000 complaints annually and resolves about 80% of these cases. Non-custodial sentencing is also being considered in conformity with international human rights standards. These measures are adopted based on recommendations by the stakeholders including academe and media.
¿Qué pasos se han dado para desarrollar mecanismos extrajudiciales, mejorar los mecanismos actuales, y reducir los obstáculos para las víctimas?
Alternate dispute resolution is being promoted.
Para las empresas que tengan casa matriz en su país o sus subsidiarias ¿su gobierno ha dado pasos para mejorar la rendición de cuentas sobre el impacto en derechos humanos en el exterior?
None.
Indique hasta qué punto cada uno de los siguientes factores le impide a su gobierno emprender acciones en temas de empresas y derechos humanos.
Most important factor:
- Lack of resources for enforcement, monitoring and prosecution
Significant factors:
- Opposition by economic interest groups or business associations
- Concern about deterring foreign investment
- Lack of understanding or awareness of business & human rights in government
- Challenges of coordinating across government departments
Minor factor:
- Opposition or lack of consensus within government
- Other opposition by influential people or groups outside government
- Political limitations imposed by foreign governments or multilateral institutions
¿Qué tipo de apoyo, si lo hay, su gobierno acogería con agrado como apoyo a sus acciones para mejorar el impacto que tienen las empresas sobre los derechos humanos?
- Technical assistance,
- Collaborative learning and
- Capacity building.