Journal Article

Informed Consent and Mining Projects: A View from Papua New Guinea

Macintyre, Martha

2007

Overview

Free, prior and informed consent is increasingly perceived as a means of ensuring that people's human rights are respected and their interests protected. This paper explores issues arising in the context of gaining informed consent about mining projects from people who are citizens of a developing nation. Assumptions about rights, processes of negotiation, scientific knowledge and environmental degradation are often alien to the local people involved. Drawing on anthropological research in Papua New Guinea, the complex interactions between understandings of scientists, environmentalists, corporation managers and indigenous people are examined. The pragmatic problems of ensuring that informed consent is gained and that the human rights of local people are equitably protected are explored and some tentative solutions offered.

• Publisher: Pacific Affairs, a division of the University of British,University of British Columbia,The University of British Columbia - Pacific Affairs,Pacific Affairs. The University of British Columbia
• Subject: Agreements / Agricultural production / Analysis / Anthropological analysis / Anthropological research / Anthropologists / Biodiversity / Business Society Relationship / Cash payments / Citizen participation / Communities / Community / Continuing education / Copper / Developing countries / Economic agreements / Economic aspects / Economic impact / Employment policies / Environmental aspects / Environmental conservation / Environmental degradation / Environmental economics / Environmental regulations / Environmentalism / Environmentalists / Equal rights / GDP / Gold / Gross Domestic Product / Human Rights / Indigenous peoples / Indigenous Populations / Information exchange / Informed consent / Informed consent (Medical law) / International community / International organizations / Landowners / LDCs / Local communities / Management / Metals mining / Mines / Mines and mineral resources / Mining / Mining industries / Mining Industry / Native North Americans / Native peoples / Natural resources / Noncitizens / Papua New Guinea / Practice / Scientific Knowledge / Social aspects / Social interaction