Emergency action needed for vulnerable artisanal and small-scale mining communities and supply chains

As the corona virus sweeps the globe, affecting the health and lives of millions, the pandemic is wreaking further economic havoc on the lives of artisanal, small scale miners and their communities. Around 83 per cent of the world’s mining workforce relies on these mines for their livelihood. That comes to roughly 40.5 million people. These people were vulnerable before the corona pandemic and even more so now.

We – the undersigned global civil society organizations and community-based associations – are calling for immediate and concerted action from governments, financing institutions, international organizations, private sector actors and others to support artisanal mining communities and to shore up their resilience in this time of corona virus crisis. It is also essential that we protect hard-won gains related to human rights and due diligence in mineral supply chains in alignment with the OECD Due Diligence Minerals Guidance. At a time of heightened risks in global mineral supply chains, the carrying out of due diligence and support for on-the-ground, OECD-aligned initiatives are more important than ever.

Download the full statement below or contact the Coordinator of the Action, Joanne Lebert jlebert@impacttransform.org from the NGO, IMPACT; Civil Society Co-Chair of the Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) of the OECD Responsible Mineral Supply Chains Forum.