Women as Economic

Actors in Responsible

Supply Chains of Minerals

Karen Hayes Senior Director Mines to Markets, Pact

OECD-ICGLR-UN Group of Experts 9th Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains

Paris, 6th May 2015

3 Main points

1. Perceptions of women in mining • Does ‘concern’ create constraints?

• Risks and rights for women in mining

2. Meet your suppliers! • Diversity of roles by mineral and by geography

3. Success stories and women champions • Rwanda – gender equity as policy

• Manono – mobilizing women miners

• Mitwaba – local advocacy for equal rights

• International initiatives

Perceptions of

women in mining

• The discourse often focuses on exploitation, abuse, vulnerability

• Often ‘women and children’ are put into the same category as though the have same needs and challenges

• Insufficient emphasis on women as economic actors in the mining business

Contradictions, and traditions

Decisions made by third parties

Links to child labor – but a different issue

Links to child labor – but a different issue

Meet your suppliers!

Women are working in all roles

Women are working in all roles

Women are working in all roles

Women are working in all roles

Success Story:

Women in Mining

in Rwanda

Success Story:

Women leaders in

the DRC mining

sector

Mme Ngoy Mwana Muzungu Jeanne

• President of Mamans Creuseurs de Djibende

• A 60 year old ex-combatant

• Started up association with 28 women members, now has 250 members aged 12 to 81

• Their objective is to protect and promote their work and interests

Mme Mujinga Gisele • In August 2014, the

customary chief of Mitwaba ordered the eviction of women from the mines.

• 382 women lost their livelihoods

• Gisele, mother of 5, refused to accept this and used the iTSCi CLS to successfully negotiate the lifting of the ban

• All women in Mitwaba mines are back to work

Women’s participation in consultations

Initiatives

• UNECA Women in Artisanal Mining meeting in Dar Es Salaam

• PROMINES Women in Mining network in DRC

• National networks in South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi – potential for peer engagement

Thank you

Karen Hayes, Senior Director Mines to Markets, Pact khayes@pactworld.org