With the global boom in critical mineral and metal mining, there is an urgent need to increase investment in tackling the sector’s complex social and human rights impacts — including the risk of gender-based violence (GBV).

The context and realities of the mining sector often exacerbate the systemic inequalities and harmful gender practices that are known to underpin GBV; and the legal, financial, reputational and operational risks posed by GBV should incentivise policymakers and companies to act across the supply chain.

This briefing proposes a collaborative, multistakeholder response that is underpinned by a deep understanding of structural inequalities to transform gender relations and design programmes and policies to tackle and prevent GBV within mining workplaces and communities.