Women miners, Bauchi govt collaborate to protect rights of practitioners

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Women in Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN), a foremost rights and advocacy group for women miners in Nigeria, has disclosed collaboration with the Bauchi State government to work out mechanisms that will adequately protect women miners and their children at different mining sites across the state.

The move is aimed at boosting the economic development of women who have chosen mining as a profession and legitimate source of livelihood, lamenting that women have been hamstrung by systemic indoctrination that they have no place in the mining sector.

This was disclosed during a two-day policy dialogue series in Bauchi State, where the founder of WIMIN, Dr Engr. Janet Adeyemi, said that the event, themed; “Safeguarding the Rights of Women and Children in the Solid Minerals Sector”, was organised to protect the rights of women and children in the mining sector.

She lamented the excruciating conditions of women at mining sites, including sexual harassment, child abuse and other forms of injustice and explained that the policy dialogue series is being funded by the Open Society Foundation (OSF) in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

According to her: “The mining sector is one of the key contributors to Nigeria’s economic development. It plays a crucial role in generating revenue and creating job opportunities, particularly for the rural communities.”

“However, the mining sector also presents a range of challenges, particularly with regard to the protection of child rights and the promotion of gender equality,” she said.

“This policy dialogue aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organisations, industry representatives and mining communities to discuss and identify policy measures that can promote gender equality and child rights in the mining sector in Bauchi.”

She stated further that it is important to recognise that gender inequality and the violation of child rights in the mining sector are not just moral and ethical issues, but also have long-term economic consequences.

“Evidence suggests that gender-inclusive policies and the protection of child rights can improve productivity, reduce absenteeism and enhance the overall competitiveness of mining companies,” she said.

According to her, “It is a series of engagements that bring together relevant stakeholders in the mining, human rights, legal, security, and environmental sectors to boost interdisciplinary collaboration and engagements and find common grounds for ensuring women and children affected by the mining sector are protected,”

Janet Adeyemi, who was represented by Ambassador Regina Edzuwah, said that WIMIN was founded to take action to support women who had become victims of those in power saying, “These women have been hamstrung by systemic indoctrination that they have no place in the mining sector,”

The WIMIN Founder explained that, “In 2006, the Association of Women Miners was created by a group of motivated friends, who commenced a radical advocacy all across the country without any support because our ideas to introduce equality of women in the mining sector sounded like a big joke to those in power.”

She added that, “As I speak to you today, Women In Mining Nigeria has grown into a nationwide organization of more than 5,000 passionate members spread across 23 states and all geopolitical zones in Nigeria.”

“We have women who are seasoned Engineers, Lawyers, Mining Operators, Mining Experts, Geologists, ASM Miners, Wives of Miners, Women living in mining host communities and Male Advocates (whom we call e He 4 She Advocates) all committed to the mission of the organization.”

“As we are all aware, the mining sector is one of the key contributors to Nigeria’s economic development,” She said.

She added that, “It plays a crucial role in generating revenue and creating job opportunities, particularly for the rural communities. However, the mining sector also presents a range of challenges, particularly with regards to the protection of child rights and the promotion of gender equality.”

Janet Adeyemi also noted that the policy dialogue was aimed to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, industry representatives, and mining communities, to discuss and identify policy measures that can promote gender equality and child rights in the mining sector in Bauchi State.

“It is vital to recognize that gender inequality and the violation of child rights in the mining sector are not just moral and ethical issues, but also have long-term economic consequences,” she said.

Continuing, she said, “Evidence suggests that gender-inclusive policies and the protection of child rights can improve productivity, reduce absenteeism, and enhance the overall competitiveness of mining companies.”

“The dialogue will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, share best practices, and identify potential areas of collaboration to promote gender equality and child rights in the mining sector.”

Janet Adeyemi added that, “It is our hope that this dialogue will lead to concrete policy recommendations and initiatives that can be implemented in the mining sector in Bauchi State and beyond.”

In a goodwill message, Bauchi State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barr Abdulhamid Bununu, said that any issue that affects the well being of Women and children in the society was cardinal to the existence of the society.

Abdulhamid Bununu further said that the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed has come up with various laws and policies to protect the interest of women and children such as Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and the Child’s Rights Act.

According to him, “His excellency the Governor has accented to these laws to ensure that the rights of the citizenry and that of women and children.are well protected,”.

The Commissioner pledged that the administration was willing to support WIMIN in protecting the Rights of women and children in the mining sector assuring the miners of strict implementation of existing laws about women and child protection.

He then announced that the Ministry of Justice has desk officers at different local councils of the state where abuses are reported.

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