Grievance Case HCSA-GM-2018-01

Grievance Case HCSA-GM-2018-01

HCSA Grievance Summary

Note: This grievance case was received prior to the launch of the HCSA Grievance Mechanism and was investigated under the HCSA Interim Grievance Resolution Procedure.

Grievance Raiser:
Milieudefensie, Sustainable Development Institute & Friends of the Earth USA

Member Respondent:
Golden Agri Resources (GAR) linked to its operation of investment company Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc. (GVL)

Date Complaint(s) Submitted:
2nd July 2018

Date Complaint(s) Accepted:
21st August 2018

Location of Complaint:
Liberia

Case Status:
Active

Grievance Allegation(s):
HCS & HCV forest clearing
Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) rights violations

Case Reference:HCSA-GM-2018-01
Grievance Raiser:Milieudefensie, Sustainable Development Institute and Friends of the Earth USA
Member Respondent:Golden Agri Resources (GAR) linked to its operation of investment company Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc. (GVL)
Date Complaint(s) Submitted:2nd July 2018
Date Complaint(s) Accepted:21st August 2018
Location of Complaint:Liberia
Case Status:Member Resignation
Grievance Allegation(s):HCS & HCV forest clearing
Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) rights violations

Grievance Case Timeline

DATEEVENT / ACTIVITYDOCUMENT
2 Jul 2018HCSA receives grievance letter on GVL HCS & HCV clearing and FPIC violations 
25 Jul 2018EC agreed to develop a grievance protocol 
21 Aug 2018HCSA commits to investigate the grievance 
1 Oct 2018HCSA Interim Grievance Resolution Procedure publishedIGR Procedure
5 Nov 2018HCSA clarifies that GVL is a GAR operation of investmentStatement
12 Apr 2019EC decides an independent panel will be established to adjudicate the grievance 
Jun 2019IGP Terms of Reference is approvedIGP ToR
16 Oct 2019IGP commence deliberations on the grievance 
20 Aug 2020GVL responds to HCSA Final Grievance Report 
Oct 2020IGP reviews & submits response to GVL’s feedback 
17 Dec 2020EC draws conclusion on case and creates EC Conclusion document 
13 Jan 2021EC Conclusion document communicated to complainant and defendantEC Conclusions
4 Feb 2021‘HCSA_GM_2018_01_GVL_GAR Grievance Case Final Report’ uploaded on HCSA WebsiteReport
16 Mar 2021IGP and HCSA Secretariat draft a Gap Analysis comparing the IGP conclusions & recommendation with GVL Sustainability Action Plan 
17 Jun 2021IGP prepared the first Excel Timebound Plan Template 
17 Nov 2021IGP created the new Timebound Plan Framework to address gaps within the first Timebound Plan Template 
Nov 2021 – Jun 2022The new Timebound Plan was developed and improved by the IGP and the HCSA Secretariat via several rounds of online review and meetings based on inputs from Complainants and Respondent 
1 Mar 2022HCSA Secretariat published the EC approved the HCSA Restoration and Remediation Guidance – Version 1Guidance
23 Jun
2022		HCSA Timebound Plan Framework for the GVL_GAR Grievance CaseFramework
30 Dec 2022Submission of LUCA & SB Study for some MoU areas & withdrawal from HCSA 
31 Jan 2023GAR’s official membership ends with HCSA after 30 days of notice period 
13 Feb 2023HCSA statement on Golden Agri-Resources (GAR) membership resignationStatement
15 Mar 2023HCSA EC Decision:
The grievance resolution measures to continue as per the Timebound Plan Framework with the panel receiving information for decisions from other parties (complainants, RSPO etc.) on whether the Timebound plan is successfully implemented.		 
15 Dec 2023

HCSA EC Decision:

    1. Timebound Plan Implementation updates will be gathered from both parties at six-month intervals by the Secretariat.
    2. Developments of the case will be made public on HCSA’s website until its resolution.
 
5 Jan 2024GVL_GAR Case Activity Updates by GVLUpdates
12 April 2024GVL_GAR Case Activity Updates by SDI and MilieudefensieUpdates
13 June 2025RSPO Complaints Panel’s Final DirectiveLetter
27 July 2025HCSA’s response to RSPO CP’s DecisionCourriel :
19 August 2025Liberian Civil Society Oil Palm Working Group response to RSPO CP’s DecisionLetter