- Approximately 2 million people live from artisanal gold mining
- Several human rights violations have been noted
- Consequently, there is a need to formalise and regulate the sector
On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, the Alliance for Responsible Mining (AMR) organized a national workshop on proposals for better integration of artisanal, small-scale mining into the formal economy and better promotion of human rights on artisanal mining sites.
The organization of such an activity is part of the Promotion of Human Rights in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ProDHu-MAPE) project funded by the European Union.
The Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Quarries, Moïse Ouédraogo, chaired the workshop. In his opening speech, he stressed the importance of the sector in the economy and therefore the need to pay particular attention to it.
The latter insisted on the importance of the contribution of non-governmental organizations and technical and financial partners because the State cannot do everything.
The need for formalization and respect for human rights
For the national coordinator of the Alliance for Responsible Mining, Desire Nikiema, the ambition of such a workshop is to reflect together with legislators to find solutions to better organize and develop the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. “It is about 2 million people who are affected by the sector, hence the need to better organize and formalize it,” he said.
Sessions were held during the workshop, one on human rights and the other on the integration of artisanal and small-scale mining (MAPE).
On the issue of human rights, several human rights violations on artisanal sites have been noted. These include forced labor, gender-based violence, inaccessibility to land by women, child labor, etc. Indeed, according to a study conducted by the Alliance for Responsible Mining as part of the ProDHu-MAPE project, approximately 3,402 children are on the sites. In light of these findings, several solutions were proposed, including the establishment of child rights and health and safety committees on artisanal mining sites, the formalization of artisanal mining sites, the establishment of committees to mechanize these sites, and access to mining resources by women.
Rachid Ouedraogo
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