Opportunities were provided for discussion and exchange among diverse actors in the small-scale and artisanal mining sector in Colombia and Peru within the framework of the Somos Tesoro project and the EITI initiative

 On November 20 and 21, a conference on mining and transparency was held in Medellín that brought together different stakeholders from the sector. Within the framework of the 12th Meeting of the Civil Society Board for Transparency in Extractive Industries of Colombia, which is part of the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), participants were invited to engage in dialogue and discussions on challenges and lessons learned concerning such issues as transparency in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, child labor, safety and security, and formalization of mining groups.

The meetings were organized by the Civil Society Board and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), an international organization that sets and promotes accountability standards for ASM. A key activity that was highlighted was the exchange of good practices and sharing of experiences between Colombia and Peru as part of the Somos Tesoro project. This project, which means “We are Treasure”, aims to eradicate child labor in the mining sector and involves the organizations Pact, ARM, Fondo Acción, and Fundación Mi Sangre, with funding by the United States Department of Labor (USDOL).

“EITI is not only for the Peruvian state; it is essential that companies and civil society also be involved.”

After having begun the preparation and implementation process in May 2013, Colombia is now about to initiate its validation process for the EITI to the International Secretariat. Now is a crucial moment to learn from the experiences of other countries further along in their transparency processes, such as Peru. For this reason, the seminar invitees included both Peruvian and Colombian government officials, as well as members of civil society and small-scale miners from both countries. In addition, staff at the Governor’s Office of the department of Antioquia and the Colombian Ministry of Mines, along with local stakeholders in the ASM sector, were encouraged to participate.

In these conversations, Peru’s contribution to good governance was analyzed and the takeaways for Colombia to apply to its validation process were discussed. “EITI is not only for the Peruvian state; it is essential that companies and civil society also be involved,” stressed a representative of the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Peru. ARM has been actively participating in the process to implement in Colombia the EITI, an initiative that advocates for open and responsible management of mineral resources. The idea was hatched during the 2002 World Summit for Sustainable Development as a means to contribute to higher levels of transparency and access to public information in the extractive sector.

“Small-scale miners should be better advised and supported to promote territorial development with knowledge.”

Mining formalization and regulation was another topic of discussion. Francisco Cama, a mining leader from Puno, Peru, placed emphasis on the importance of providing support to communities as part of the formalization process of the ASM. The Governor’s Office of Antioquia had previously reminded conference attendees that this department contained around 3,000 active mines that lacked a title. “Small-scale miners should be better advised and supported to promote territorial development with knowledge,” underscored a mining leader from Sogamoso, Boyacá, who recalled that regulations are often not aligned with the reality of ASM.

For more information:

Conny Havel, Head of Communications at the Alliance for Responsible Mining. gro.s1711713109enime1711713109lbisn1711713109opser1711713109@leva1711713109hynno1711713109c1711713109

Elizabeth Echavarría, Official of Public Policies at the Alliance for Responsible gro.s1711713109enime1711713109lbisn1711713109opser1711713109@airr1711713109avahc1711713109ehteb1711713109azile1711713109.gnin1711713109iM1711713109

Astrid Elena Villegas, Communicator of the project Somos Tesoro
gro.d1711713109lrowt1711713109cap@s1711713109agell1711713109ivea1711713109

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