September 2011
ARM/Maplecroft Gold Dialogue: The imperative of collaboration between Artisanal/Small scale and Large Scale Mining.
Growing concerns among NGOs, consumers, communities and regulators regarding the circumstances and impacts of certain gold production have prompted the development of the OECD Due Diligence Guidance, the RJC Principles and Code of Practices, the WGC Standards, IRMA, the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework, as well as specific provisions within the US Dodd Frank Act addressing conflict-minerals. These supply chain initiatives have mainly been focused on the large and medium scale mining industry and supply chain players – and some place particular focus on preventing minerals from fuelling conflict in Africa and elsewhere.
However, these initiatives can often have clear negative impacts for ASM. Without legal mineral rights and support for formalization, artisanal miners are unable to meet the requirements of these standards and will be excluded from international markets as a result. This has serious implications for artisanal and small-scale miners and risks leaving thousands vulnerable to further marginalisation and ongoing informality.
This is the first of a series of Gold Dialogues, which shall explore how the Large Scale Mining (LSM) and Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) sectors can work together to build traceable and ethical gold supply chains, and to promote sustainable, responsible and equitable practices within the ASM sector.
In particular, discussions will be focused on:
1. The risks and opportunities relating to the formalisation of ASM
2. The means by which the ASM sector can ensure its legitimate concerns and perspectives can be integrated into or reflected by global initiatives and standards developed by, or for, large global companies – from mining to electronics
3. How the LSM sector can work with responsible operators in the ASM sector to bring ethically produced gold to market
The event will take place on Monday 17 October 2011 and will host a broad-range of participants from leading NGOs, industry associations and gold producers, as well as Fairtrade.
Invited participants:
- Africa Matters
- Alliance for Responsible Mining
- Amnesty International
- Business and Human Rights Centre
- CAFOD
- Care International
- Comic Relief
- Chatham House
- De Beers Group
- De Beers Diamond Jewellers
- DFID/CASM
- Fairtrade Foundation
- Fairtrade Fairmined registered businesses
- Global Witness
- Human Rights Watch
- ICMM and member companies
- Institute for Human Rights
- International Alert
- London Bullion Market Association
- OECD
- OXFAM
- Responsible Jewellery Council
- Save the Children UK
- Solidaridad
- Sustainable Markets Initiative
- Transparency International
- World Gold Council and member companies
- World Vision
- Other industry professionals and expert guests