In celebration of women artisanal gold miners

Women’s contribution and priorities in artisanal and small scale gold mining are often overlooked. This is in part due to the informal nature of the sector, existing inequitable gender norms and in part because mining continues to be understood in many places as a sector of the economy requiring stereotypical male characteristics. Yet women form an important part of the work force in the sector, playing a wide variety of roles. As in many sectors, women earn less for their work when compared with men.

Gender training in Peru

The artisanal gold mining sector offers the opportunity to narrow existing gender gaps, but also runs the risk of widening them, if this is not a priority. Globally, the world economic forum estimates that it will take 117 years to achieve gender parity.  AGC is committed to accelerating the closing of the gender gap in ASGM. Gender equity is not a by-product of our work, but rather an explicit target. Women and men are both integral for the development of a responsible artisanal gold sector that contributes to the sustainable development of their communities.

When women’s strategic interests or practical needs are identified and addressed, ASGM can be a vehicle to improved socio-economic status, increased decision-making power in communities and increased economic independence for women. It can also enable women to take measures to protect their and their families’ health.  As the backbones to communities around the world, these improvements will be reflected in broader social development through investments that women in turn are able to make in their family’s education and health.

Today is March 8^th, International Women’s Day and we’d like to celebrate the contribution of women in artisanal and small scale gold mining, by taking a look at a new project that we are launching in Peru. AGC is excited to be partnering with Red Social, a Peruvian Non-Governmental Organization with a long history of working with women and men artisanal miners. They have done extensive documentation of women in artisanal mining in Peru. This is a significant contribution. Already there is insufficient information about the informal sector, and within the sector women’s roles and needs are invisible to decision makers if they aren’t highlighted. You can see some of their recent work here.

Over the next four years in the context of a Global Affairs Canada funded partnership Red Social and the Artisanal Gold Council will improve the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector in the regions of Arequipa, Ayacucho and Apurimac by working directly with miners, the Peruvian government, and the wide group of stakeholders involved in the communities surrounding artisanal mining and the gold sector at large. Gender is mainstreamed throughout the project. Specifically, the project will:

Raise awareness about gender equality with miners and mining communities through a series of facilitated workshops.  These sessions will have the dual purpose of generating awareness and community level action as well as to document current roles, obstacles, priorities and opportunities for women in the sector.

Build and strengthen women’s organisations, supporting them in organisation, communication, leadership and business operations. Support will be tailored to organisational needs, and provided using an accompaniment model. The project will also provide physical spaces for women’s groups to use. One will be located adjacent to the processing plant can serve multiple purposes including serving as a warehouse for women to store their ore, a meeting place, and other functions. The second will be located in the community will serve primarily as the office of the women’s association but also as a multifunctional area for child care and other needs. The support to women’s organisations will elevate their status within their communities.

 Involve women in the operation of mercury free processing plants. Healthier, more environmentally-friendly and economically more productive ore processing systems will be built in this project. Women will be incorporated and trained in roles relating to the operation of plants. This may include monitoring the carpets or working as an administrator for instance. Each processing plant will also guarantee women’s ability to process ore at the plant.

Engender policies and development plans, by working with decision-makers. Mining and environmental policy often passes as gender “neutral”. In reality these policies also need to specifically consider the differential impact on men and women in order to contribute to long term goals of sustainable development. Bringing concrete lived experiences from women in ASGM in Peru to decision makers will help engender planning documents and policies.

At the national level, there is an articulation of a desire to transform the artisanal gold sector in Peru. Women are key players for this evolution to be successful. Today we celebrate the contributions that women throughout Peru are already making in the sector.

We’ll be sharing more about our work in Peru in the coming months and years, as the project progresses. Stay tuned.