The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) held a global digital consultation on Goxi in September/October 2020, in partnership with International Women in Mining, to better understand and define the role of governments and other stakeholders in assessing the gendered impacts of mining. The goal was to map available policy tools and case studies while examining the challenges and potentials of implementing these tools.
We are thrilled to announce the results of the consultation, which we see as key milestone in gender as part of impact assessment.
We know that mining impacts are felt far beyond the project site and can change the social, economic, and cultural fabric in mining-affected communities.
We also know mining is not gender neutral. Women can face gender discrimination regardless of a mining project’s size or stage of development. Mining can alter people’s livelihoods, ways of life, cultural traits, political systems, and community structures—and these changes affect women and men differently. The right policies and practices can ensure mining doesn’t foster gender inequality and discrimination, but rather supports women in sharing the benefits and opportunities that the sector can provide.