June 2011
The mining leaders of Fairtrade and Fairmined pilot projects and support organizations from Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru met on the 16th a
nd 17th of May 2011 in Santa Fe Antioquia, Colombia to interchange and evaluate their experiences of working towards Fairmined and Fairtrade certification.
The objective of the workshop, organised by ARM and Solidaridad, was to construct guidelines on the type of tools that should be developed in order to better assist artisanal and small scale mining organizations in complying with the Fairtrade and Fairmined standard.
The inputs given by the participants will guide the joint work by ARM and Solidaridad in the coming years, to further develop a quality producer support program, permitting the quicker and more efficient introduction of new mining organizations into the system.
The meeting was at the same time a place for enriching dialogue. The miners were able to exchange experiences of their organizations and discuss the situation of artisanal and small scale mining in their countries.
The event consolidated the Latin American network around a common objective: to make sure the largest possible number of artisanal and small scale miners on the continent are certified under the Fairtrade and Fairmined standard, working responsibly and improving the quality of life in their communities.
ARM wants to thank all of the participants: the pioneer mining organizations, the support organizations, and the team from Solidaridad for their great level of involvement, excellent motivation, and valuable contributions.