An example of female empowerment in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector

After the women mineral selectors of Suárez (Cauca, Colombia) came together to reflect on their situation as subsistence miners, they agreed that they want their labor to be valued, that it is recognized as decent work. They welcome the opportunity to access information and necessary training to improve their knowledge about health and safety conditions at work, gold commercialization and organizational aspects, which they hope will result in a better quality of life and increased capabilities.

The Alliance for Responsible Mining is working together with these women, who saw the need to create a united and legally recognized group, so that they could become empowered through the process of having their labor recognized. They considered that forming an association was an appropriate strategy for them to achieve their goals of dignifying their work and empowering themselves, both on a personal and economic level.

Motivated by these reasons, on September 11, 2017, a group of 57 women came together and became organized under a solidarity economy model. The next month they created a constitution and their statutes, and then they registered their newly founded organization as the “Association of Women Mineral Selectors and Peacebuilders of the Municipality of Suárez – Cauca (ASOMUSELUPAZ)”.

By doing so, the women selectors of Suárez took on a commitment to themselves, to their work, and to the community. To follow through on their commitments, the women expressed their desire to allow members to contribute ideas on how to continuously grow and improve the group, aware that it will require constant work. They also wished for members to have an attitude of union, inclusivity, and solidarity, as well as to encourage good communication and companionship.

Once they began to work together on different proposed activities, they were able to clearly see the advantages of having this association. Their meetings so far have been workshops on the solidarity economy, commercialization, good mining practices, and workplace safety. At each one, teamwork and fair and responsible division of labors was promoted, and there was palpable enthusiasm and commitment among the attendees.

Today the women feel more empowered and self-confident. Their work as mineral selectors is a source of pride and makes them feel like they are an active part of their communities, where they have a voice as a sector among the public and private entities of the mining industry. They went from being known initially as “waste pickers” to now being considered “mineral sorters”. Day in and day out, they work to provide a better future for their families and loved ones.

These women serve as an example of how to persist in the never-ending fight toward fulfilling their dreams, above all through their union and camaraderie. It is not easy to be a woman working in an industry where the majority are men, but these women have managed to show that they are also strong and capable of finding their subsistence in the subsoil.

Read here the personal story of one of them, Senides Lucumi.  

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