Photo by Beaux Watwood
Courtesy of Initiatives in Art and Culture
The Alliance for Responsible Mining is proud to announce that Cristina Echavarría, co-founder of our organization, has been awarded the Leadership in Responsible Practices Award at the 14th Annual Gold and Diamond Conference organized by Initiatives in Art and Culture (IAC).
The event took place at the Bohemian National Hall in New York from July 15 to 17, 2024, bringing together prominent industry leaders, academics, jewelers, and representatives from various trade organizations and NGOs worldwide. During the award ceremony, Cristina Echavarría received this prestigious recognition in honor of her tireless work in supporting sustainable development and participatory management of natural resources with indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and artisanal mining communities.
With over 35 years of experience, her work has been crucial in advancing responsible mining practices in Latin America and Africa. Echavarría, visibly moved, thanked for the recognition and shared an inspiring speech on the importance of responsible mining and the positive impact it can have on mining communities.
The award, which this year includes a Fairmined gold nugget donated by Torry Hoover, holds special significance as it marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM). This symbolic recognition was simultaneously awarded to Cristina Echavarría and Torry Hoover, highlighting the importance of their work in promoting responsible mining practices.
In her speech, Cristina Echavarría expressed:
"I dedicate this recognition to artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM), especially women miners, and to the members of ARM, thank you for being part of this journey. 30 years ago, it was common to hear that ASM had to disappear and give way to modern, responsible, large-scale mining, because ASM was inefficient, it was rife with child labor, mercury use, human rights violations, and other security, social, and environmental issues. However, as we say, artisanal mining is large-scale mining in social terms. More than 44 million men and women depend on it as part of their livelihoods, and over 20% of all minerals are mined by ASM. It cannot be ignored."
The event, under the theme “Expanding Horizons,” focused on fostering innovative perspectives and collaborative efforts within the gold, diamond, and jewelry sectors. Among the highlighted sessions, crucial topics such as climate change, gender inequality, and the socioeconomic realities of mining communities were discussed. Participants had the opportunity to engage in dynamic panels and networking sessions, facilitating valuable connections with key industry figures.
The Alliance for Responsible Mining congratulates Cristina Echavarría and Torry Hoover for this well-deserved recognition and thanks Lisa Koenenberg, founder and president of Initiatives in Art and Culture, for highlighting the importance of responsible and sustainable mining practices. We will continue to work together to promote a better future for artisanal and small-scale mining and for the communities that depend on it.