September 2022|

www.gold.org

Human Rights Statement
The World Gold Council’s mission is to support a viable and sustainable future for thegold market. Our respect for human rights is critical to our mission and informs ouractivities; it guides us in how we treat and train our employees and how we work with
our suppliers. We believe our work can bring about major benefits and improvements
to individuals, communities and society. We want to contribute to sustainable
development and support the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Our People
We treat everyone who works for World Gold Council(WGC) fairly and without discrimination. Our employees,
agency staff and suppliers are entitled to work in anenvironment and under conditions that respect theirrights and dignity. The WGC believes in diversity and iscommitted to providing equal employment opportunity
to all qualified persons, regardless of race, religion,
sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic.
We will abide by applicable laws concerning
non-interference in our workers’ right to form or joina trade union or to bargain collectively, as well as
their right not to do so. Where our employees wish to
be represented by trade unions or works councils, wewill co-operate in good faith with the bodies that ouremployees collectively choose to represent them.
In situations where freedom of association isrestricted or prohibited by law, we will be open
to and supportive of alternative means of worker
representation and engagement.
Our Activities
We conduct our activities in a manner that respects
the rights and dignity of all people, complying withall legal requirements. We recognize our responsibility
to respect human rights and avoid complicity in humanrights abuses, as stated in the UN Guiding Principles
on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and reiterated
in the human rights chapter of the Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.
We believe strongly in efforts to combat all formsof criminality and corruption and support internationaland regional legal frameworks in this regard, including
the UN Convention against Corruption.

Our Suppliers
We set out clear expectations for our suppliers, which
includes a commitment to conduct business ethically,
lawfully and in conformance with human rights
standards. See: Expectations of Suppliers.
We seek to do business only with reputable andtrustworthy suppliers and conduct diligencecommensurate with potential suppliers’ risk profile.
At a minimum, the WGC expects its suppliers andtheir supply chain to comply fully with all applicablelaws and regulations in the conduct of their business.
We also seek to impose appropriate contractual
commitments from our suppliers on human rights
issues, including with respect to modern slavery,
privacy, anti-money laundering, anti-bribery andcorruption and international sanctions.
Our Members
Whilst our members operate independently of theWGC in relation to their own activities, we note andwelcome the support to human rights demonstrated
by our members’ commitment to The Responsible
Gold Mining Principles, released in September 2019.
These Principles specifically talk to Human Rights andConflict, committing all implementing companies torespect the human rights of their workforce, affected
communities and all those people with whom theyinteract. Conformance with the Responsible Gold Mining
Principles is a requirement for membership of the WGC.
GovernanceThis Statement is issued on behalf of and applies tothe WGC, An Association and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries. It is incorporated by reference into theWGC’s internal Code of Conduct.