skip to Main Content
Loading Events

« All Events

  • This event has passed.

South Africa – High-level Dialogue on Human Rights Protection and Environmental Sustainability in Mining Areas in South Africa

November 21, 2024 -8:00 am - November 22, 2024 -5:00 pm

Durban

Event Overview

On November 21-22, 2024, SARW hosted a critical two-day dialogue aimed at addressing the pressing issues faced by mining communities across Southern Africa. This event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from mining companies, financial institutions, local governments, civil society organizations, and impacted communities. The main objective was to explore the complexities of mining’s socioeconomic and environmental impacts while developing actionable solutions to protect the rights of affected communities.

The dialogue focused on three key themes:

  • Socioeconomic and Environmental Rights in Mining Communities
  • Corporate Responsibility and Accountability
  • Collaborative Approaches to Addressing Mining’s Challenges

Key Highlights and Discussions

The event featured robust discussions centered around the intersection of mining activities and human rights. Key speakers, including legal practitioners, civil society activists, and government officials, underscored the critical need for transparency, accountability, and collaboration to create sustainable and just outcomes for mining communities.

Day 1: Corporate Responsibility and Accountability
Keynote speakers emphasized the need for mining companies to develop and implement clear human rights policies. These policies should include provisions for community consultation, grievance mechanisms, and transparency in operations. Speakers also highlighted the importance of fostering responsible investment practices and ensuring that companies’ operations do not come at the expense of human rights or environmental sustainability.

Day 2: Community Empowerment and Collaborative Approaches
On the second day, discussions focused on the importance of community involvement in decision-making processes and ensuring that mining activities do not violate the rights of affected communities. The dialogue highlighted the need for communities to be better informed and involved, with an emphasis on ensuring that consultations are meaningful and conducted in the communities’ languages. There was also a strong call for collective action, with stakeholders agreeing that collaboration between communities, governments, and businesses is essential to address the challenges faced by mining communities.

Actionable Takeaways and Recommendations

The dialogue concluded with several actionable takeaways that will guide future efforts in the sector:

  1. Develop Clear Human Rights Policies:
    Mining companies were urged to adopt comprehensive human rights policies that outline how they will manage risks, including labor rights, land rights, and environmental concerns. These policies should be easily accessible to affected communities and include provisions for community grievances and complaints.
  2. Community Consultation and Empowerment:
    A key recommendation was the strengthening of consultation processes, ensuring they are timely, accessible, and conducted in local languages. It was agreed that meaningful consultation, including the concept of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), must be a fundamental part of mining operations.
  3. Transparent Grievance Mechanisms:
    Participants called for the establishment of clear and accessible grievance mechanisms for mining communities, ensuring they can report violations or concerns safely and effectively. These mechanisms should be part of the mining companies’ due diligence process and actively promoted to affected communities.
  4. Focus on Rehabilitation and Land Restoration:
    The discussion also touched on the issue of mine rehabilitation. Stakeholders agreed that unused rehabilitation funds should be repurposed for community development initiatives to address the long-term socioeconomic impacts of mining. The implementation of stronger mine closure policies and more stringent enforcement was seen as essential.
  5. Building Trust and Addressing Power Asymmetries:
    Addressing trust issues and power asymmetries between stakeholders was another priority. The dialogue emphasized the need for multi-stakeholder collaborations, including government, business, civil society, and local communities, to tackle these challenges effectively.

Call to Action

As the event wrapped up, participants were united in their call for urgent action:

  • Engagement and Collaboration: Mining companies, governments, and financial institutions must work together more effectively to protect the rights of mining communities.
  • Policy Reform: A collective effort to strengthen policies and ensure that mining practices align with human rights standards is critical.
  • Enhanced Corporate Accountability: Mining companies must be held accountable for their actions, with a focus on long-term sustainability and the well-being of affected communities.
  • Support for Affected Communities: Community-driven initiatives should be prioritized, ensuring that affected people have a voice in decisions that impact their lives, land, and livelihoods.

Looking Ahead

The two-day dialogue set the stage for continued conversations and actions to ensure the protection of mining communities’ socioeconomic and environmental rights. Stakeholders are committed to pursuing the implementation of the recommendations made during the event, with follow-up meetings and collaborations to be scheduled in the coming months.

Group 2
Group 2
Dsc00041
Dsc00039
Dsc00038
Dsc00037
Dsc00036 2
Dsc00022 2
Dsc00006 2
Dsc00001
Dsc00025
Dsc00023
Dsc00022
Dsc00018
Dsc00013 2
Dsc00009 2
Dsc00004
Dsc00003 2
Dsc00063
Dsc00061
Dsc00060
Dsc00058
Dsc00057
Dsc00053
Dsc00050
Dsc00040
Dsc00036
Dsc00035
Dsc00034
Dsc00033
Dsc00032
Dsc00026
Dsc00017
Gc6f7w Wkai2oom
Dsc00010 2
Dsc00009
Dsc00008
Dsc00006
Dsc00005
Dsc00003
Dsc00002
Dsc09989
Dsc09988
Dsc09987
Dsc09985
Dsc09984
Dsc09979
Dsc09978
Dsc09977 2
Dsc09973 2
Dsc09972
Dsc09971
 MG 3556
 MG 3555
Dsc09970
Dsc09969
Dsc09968
Dsc09967
Dsc09966
Dsc09964
Dsc09961
Dsc03652
Dsc03643
Dsc03640
Dsc03631
Dsc03619
Dsc03618
Dsc03605
Dsc00013
Dsc00010
Dsc09945
Dsc09947
Dsc09954
Dsc09977
Dsc09976
Dsc09973
Dsc09958
Dsc09957
Dsc09853
Dsc09842
Dsc09801
Dsc09840
Dsc09910
Dsc09907
Dsc09906
Dsc09839
Dsc09887
Dsc09886
Dsc09885
Dsc09884
Dsc09882
Dsc09838
Dsc09877
Dsc09841
Group 2Dsc00041Dsc00039Dsc00038Dsc00037Dsc00036 2Dsc00022 2Dsc00006 2Dsc00001Dsc00025Dsc00023Dsc00022Dsc00018Dsc00013 2Dsc00009 2Dsc00004Dsc00003 2Dsc00063Dsc00061Dsc00060Dsc00058Dsc00057Dsc00053Dsc00050Dsc00040Dsc00036Dsc00035Dsc00034Dsc00033Dsc00032Dsc00026Dsc00017Gc6f7w Wkai2oomDsc00010 2Dsc00009Dsc00008Dsc00006Dsc00005Dsc00003Dsc00002Dsc09989Dsc09988Dsc09987Dsc09985Dsc09984Dsc09979Dsc09978Dsc09977 2Dsc09973 2Dsc09972Dsc09971MG 3556MG 3555Dsc09970Dsc09969Dsc09968Dsc09967Dsc09966Dsc09964Dsc09961Dsc03652Dsc03643Dsc03640Dsc03631Dsc03619Dsc03618Dsc03605Dsc00013Dsc00010Dsc09945Dsc09947Dsc09954Dsc09977Dsc09976Dsc09973Dsc09958Dsc09957Dsc09853Dsc09842Dsc09801Dsc09840Dsc09910Dsc09907Dsc09906Dsc09839Dsc09887Dsc09886Dsc09885Dsc09884Dsc09882Dsc09838Dsc09877Dsc09841

Details

Start:
November 21, 2024 -8:00 am
End:
November 22, 2024 -5:00 pm

Venue

Durban, South Africa

Subscribe to our newsletter for latest news.

Border
Logo Footer
Back To Top