Bauchi: WIMIN organises policy dialogue to protect rights of women and children in mining

From David Kuvie Bauchi

Women In Mining Nigeria, WIMIN, a foremost rights and advocacy group for women miners in Nigeria, has organsied a two-day policy dialogue series in Bauchi State to protect the rights of women and children in the mining sector.

The founder of WIMIN, Dr Engr. Janet Adeyemi, said the event with the theme “Safeguarding the Rights of Women and Children in the Solid Minerals Sector”,  is funded by the Open Society Foundation (OSF) in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC

In her welcome address during the event which held at Chartwell hotel and suites,. Bauchi, on Thursday, Adeyemi explained that the policy dialogue series is to bring together relevant stakeholders in the mining sector to brainstorm on how to improve the rights of women and children in the sector.

“It is a series of engagements that bring together relevant stakeholders in the mining, human rights, legal, security, and environmental sectors to boost interdisciplinary collaboration and engagements and find common grounds for ensuring women and children affected by the mining sector are protected,” she said 

Adeyemi, who was represented by Ambassador Regina Edzuwah, said WIMIN was founded to take action to support women who had become victims of those in power.

“These women have been hamstrung by systemic indoctrination that they have no place in the mining sector,” she said.

“In 2006, the Association of Women Miners was created by a group of motivated friends, who commenced a radical advocacy all across the country without any support because our ideas to introduce equality of women in the mining sector sounded like a big joke to those in power.

“As I speak to you today, Women In Mining Nigeria has grown into a nationwide organization of more than 5,000 passionate members spread across 23 states and all geopolitical zones in Nigeria. 

“We have women who are seasoned Engineers, Lawyers, Mining Operators, Mining Experts, Geologists, ASM Miners, Wives of Miners, Women living in mining host communities and Male Advocates (whom we call e He 4 She Advocates) all committed to the mission of the organization

“As we are all aware, the mining sector is one of the key contributors to Nigeria’s economic development.

“It plays a crucial role in generating revenue and creating job opportunities, particularly for the rural communities. However, the mining sector also presents a range of challenges, particularly with regards to the protection of child rights and the promotion of gender equality”

Adeyemi said policy dialogue was  aimed to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, industry representatives, and mining communities, to discuss and identify policy measures that can promote gender equality and child rights in the mining sector in Bauchi State.

“It is vital to recognize that gender inequality and the violation of child rights in the mining sector are not just moral and ethical issues, but also have long-term economic consequences,” she said.

“Evidence suggests that gender-inclusive policies and the protection of child rights can improve productivity, reduce absenteeism, and enhance the overall competitiveness of mining companies.

“The dialogue will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange ideas, share best practices, and identify potential areas of collaboration to promote gender equality and child rights in the mining sector. 

“It is our hope that this dialogue will lead to concrete policy recommendations and initiatives that can be implemented in the mining sector in Bauchi State and beyond.

Participants who graced the two-day dialogue in Bauchi included representatives of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Justice.

Others were representives from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), legal practitioners, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), traditional rulers, and several other relevant stakeholders.

The group’s Programme Manager, Deloraine Dennis,  emphasised the need to bring isolated efforts together.

 “Bauchi is a strategic mining state and there are underlying issues that must be addressed, especially as they affect women and children,”  Dennis said.

“With this dialogue, we can hear from different agencies and bodies, and collate their experiences and ideas, so that the resolutions from the meeting will be adequate to form policies that will address the issues before us”

.Some papers presented included ; “Determining the Significance of Government Policies Protecting Women and Children in the Solid Minerals Sector in Bauchi State” by Sadiq Mohammed Adamu,  a representative of the Bauchi State Ministry of Education and “Addressing Gender-based Violence and Harassment in the Solid Mineral Sector: The Role of Stakeholders” to be presented by Muhammad Sa’id, a Gender-based Violence Consultant and lecturer, Bauchi State College of Agriculture.

Dennis explained.further that the Policy Dialogue series was initiated to understudy the plight of women and children associated with the mining sector in three states in the country, namely Ekiti, Kogi, and Bauchi, representing the Southern, Central, and Northern parts of Nigeria. 

“The resolutions from such engagements will form useful components in policy actions by the government and development partners towards ensuring that the sector is safe and conducive for women to thrive,” she said.

In a goodwill message Bauchi State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Barr Abdulhamid Bununu, said any issue that affects the well being of women and children in the society was cardinal to the existence of the society.

Bununu said the administration.of Governor Bala Mohammed has come up with various laws and policies to protect the interest of women and children such as Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.and.thw Child’s Rights Act.

“His excellency the Governor has accented to these laws to ensure.thaf the rights of the citizenry and that of women and children.are well protected,” he said.

The Commissioner pledged.that the administration was willing to support WIMIN in protecting the Rights of women and children in the mining sector.