Anglo American Launches Living With Dignity Hub In South Africa
Anglo American Launches Living With Dignity Hub In South Africa. The company says that the launch of the Hub adds to its efforts to support its workforce in dealing with gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment, bullying, victimisation, harassment, and domestic violence.
A key differentiator of the Hub is its provision of first-responder support, including victim-led comprehensive safety, medical, legal, and psycho-social support to victims and their families. While it is an additional confidential channel for reporting incidents in Anglo American, the Hub operates independently from other processes and systems across the company under the auspices of an independent ambassador.
Nolitha Fakude, Chairperson of Anglo American’s Management Board in South Africa, said: “The fact that in 2022 women must still fight for their dignity and, in some instances, their very lives, is deeply disturbing. While it is true that GBV is complex and not unique to South Africa, we must confront the unpleasant truth of mining’s legacy of perpetuating gender exclusion and patriarchy. At its core, our Living with Dignity framework is rooted in the belief that everyone has the right to dignity – in the workplace, at home, and everywhere.”
The Living with Dignity Hub is one of the critical strategic responses to emerge from our Living with Dignity framework and its Inclusion and Diversity strategy. Launched two years ago, the framework is underpinned by our zero-tolerance approach to all forms of violence within our workplace and communities. The framework is also supported by our Stand Up for Everyone anti-bullying and harassment campaign and Group Policy on Recognising and Responding to Domestic Violence. The Hub is launched first in South Africa, where Anglo American has its largest footprint, and is expected to extend to other jurisdictions over time.
Vanessa Doble, Head of the Living with Dignity Hub at Anglo American, said: “We can no longer hope to address gender-based violence and the harm women in our industry continue to face through rhetoric. The Living with Dignity Hub demonstrates our commitment to ending gender-based violence and to empowering our colleagues to identify and act against all forms of abuse. Creating an inclusive workplace, where everyone feels physically and psychologically safe, requires us to continue to do more to affirm their right to live with dignity. This is our resolute commitment.”
In South Africa, Anglo American is championing the implementation of law and policy advocacy reforms by partnering with government, civil society, and academia to bring about systemic change to end GBV. More recently, we have been working with other mining companies and the Minerals Council South Africa in establishing a national partnership between the council and the Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit (SOCA) in the National Prosecution Authority’s (NPA).
