The artisanal and small-scale mining sector has been growing with an estimated 30% of the workforce constituted by women globally. With benefits of income generation enabling women to support their families, the sector has been marked as having the potential to contribute to addressing socioeconomic struggles that affect the wellbeing of women.In particular, ASM provides avenues for addressing gender inequality as still characterising most mineral economies and sectors. It is recognised that for the benefits of ASM to be leveraged, the risks and challenges experienced by women working in ASM need to be addressed. This is because onthe other end, ASM can perpetuate inequalities leaving women vulnerable with limited access to opportunities and benefits. As such, a critical component of the formalisation of the sector includes consideration of both positive and negative impacts of ASM on women, and this comes with understanding their experiences in the sector.
Download the full report here >>>UNDERSTANDING THE PARTICIPATION AND ROLE OF WOMEN IN ARTISANAL AND SMALL SCALE MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA REPORT