Read the Initial Assessment published by the NCP 20 November 2023: English | French
Read the Final Statement published by the NCP 29 April 2024: English | French
Read the Follow-up Statement published by the NCP 6 June 2025: English | French
On 10 September 2022, United Tegaru Canada, a Canadian NGO with a mission to advocate and amplify the voices of the Tigrayan people, submitted a specific instance to the Canadian NCP alleging that Sun Peak Metals Corporation, a Canadian junior mining company focused on mineral exploration projects in Ethiopia, had not observed the Human Rights (Chapter IV) provisions of the Guidelines. Specifically, the submitter claimed that by operating in Ethiopia – and specifically by paying taxes/licensing fees to the Government of Ethiopia – Sun Peak Metals, is or has been involved with and/or contributing to adverse human rights impacts linked to violations allegedly committed by that country’s government in the context of the Tigray conflict. The submitter also questioned whether Sun Peak Metals had a policy commitment to human rights and whether the company was undertaking appropriate human rights due diligence.
On 20 November 2023, the NCP published an initial assessment deciding to accept the case for further examination only in relation to Chapter IV, paragraph 5 on human rights due diligence. The NCP decided not to accept the specific instance with regard to Chapter IV, paragraphs 1 and 2, finding that consideration of whether the company’s payment of taxes or licensing fees in Ethiopia contributed to or involved it in alleged human rights abuses by the government would not advance the purposes or effectiveness of the Guidelines. The NCP also declined to accept the instance under Chapter IV, paragraph 4, as the company had developed and published a human rights policy upon notification of the specific instance. The NCP made an offer of good offices, which both parties accepted. The NCP observed a largely constructive discussion that contributed to a greater mutual understanding between the parties and heightened awareness of the Guidelines and how they might inform the enterprise’s activities.
On 29 April 2024, the NCP published a final statement concluding the process without agreement between the parties. The final statement noted a February 2024 press release by the enterprise concerning preparations to renew its exploration activities in Ethiopia. The NCP noted that there was no mention of human rights due diligence in the press release. The NCP recommended that the enterprise include more specific information about its human rights due diligence in future public communications, and describe how its commitment to conduct human rights due diligence had been or would be informing its preparations to resume work on exploration properties in Ethiopia.
On 6 June 2025, the NCP published a follow-up statement. It welcomed that, in a further press release on 4 April 2024, announcing the commencement of exploratory drilling, Sun Peak Metals included a section on its ongoing community engagement. The company also explained its approach to monitoring and verifying respect for workers’ rights on its projects in a call with the NCP. United Tegaru Canada reiterated its request for more detailed information on the company’s human rights due diligence and raised ongoing concerns about potential adverse impacts in the region and the need for strengthened due diligence and communication.
The NCP encouraged Sun Peak Metals to give ongoing consideration to its implementation of the Guidelines’ recommendations, and to assess whether providing more specific information on its human rights due diligence could strengthen its future implementation. The NCP does recognise that such disclosure should not impose an unreasonable administrative or financial burden on the company.