Stakeholders in Nigeria’s extractive sector have been charged to coalesce efforts towards eliminating child labour and sexual and gender-based violence in the sector.
The President and Founder of Women In Mining Nigeria (WIMIN) Janet Adeyemi who gave the charge noted that the mining industry has long been plagued by a host of complex issues that threaten the rights and well-being of those working within it.
Making her opening remarks at a 2-day policy dialogue on gender rights and child labour in the sector organised by WIMIN for mining stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, she said the dialogue is a critical step towards achieving the goal.
The WIMN who was represented by the group’s program coordinator, Dennis Deloraine said, “We must come together to address these issues and work towards creating a more equitable and sustainable mining sector that respects the rights of all individuals involved.
“The issue of child labour has become a major concern, with an estimated 1 million children working in mines worldwide.
“Additionally, gender discrimination and violence against women are still prevalent in many mining communities, further exacerbating the challenges faced by women in these areas.
“We can develop solutions that are both practical and effective in protecting the rights of women and children in the mining industry.
“We can make a positive impact on the lives of those who are most vulnerable in the mining sector. Let us work towards a future where gender rights are respected and child labour is eliminated, and where the mining industry operates in a manner that is both sustainable and socially responsible.
She added that the essence of the policy dialogue is to bring the stakeholders in the extractive sector together to discuss issues that have relegated women to the background in the solid mineral sector.
“The relegation has led to women facing what is known as sexual and gender-based violence incidences here in Nigeria, in a bid to tackle the issue Women In Mining In Nigeria had invited the relevant stakeholders to our x-ray the group’s policies and practices in the sector, identify the gaps, the drivers and the enablers of S/GBV incidences here in Ekiti State and come up with a way forward”.
On his part, the Ekiti State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Mr Biodun Adigun decried a low report of human rights abuse in the mining sector.
Adigun who was represented by the Public Affairs Officer of the commission in the state, Mr Bayo Babalola, noted that there is already existing collaboration between NHRC and WIMIN.
According to him, “The women group had already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Commission at the headquarters in Abuja and this has been extended to state offices including Ekiti. This will solidify and boost already existing collaboration with the group.
” We are now trying to work out modalities by which WIMIN’s newly launched reporting App will be put into use by the commission as well as other critical stakeholders for the reportage of complaints bordering on abuse of women’s rights in mining. And to see other means that could be explored to ensure that complaints are received from the public to the commission from time to time on abuse of women in mining”.
Also speaking, a facilitator at the event, Mr Biodun Oyeleye, said protecting women against violence in mining or violence generally is a human rights issue which has to be protected.
He noted that research has shown that, women are the worst hit in terms of economic emancipation and It is important to take care of their rights, as they will, in turn, take care of the children.
“When their right is protected, they will have the capacity to pursue economic emancipation apart from human right issue. In Ekiti state, the government has zero tolerance for violence against women. There are policies and laws in place to ensure that rights of women and children are protected.”
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