ACCA statement – Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) 2018
Released on 15 February 2018
The African Coalition for Corporate Accountability (ACCA) congratulates the convenors of the Alternative Mining Indaba (AMI) 2018 on successfully convening the 9th AMI in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5-7 February 2018 under the theme: Making Natural Resources Work for the People: Towards Just Legal, Policy and Institutional Reforms.
Download the statement
hereThe ACCA sees the importance of creating a space for African civil society organisations to convene and discuss issues related to mining activities through experience and knowledge sharing. As such, the ACCA Steering Committee (SC) together with a few ACCA member organisations attended the AMI. The ACCA notes that the status quo that excludes meaningful engagement with community representatives in development projects through mining activities must end.
The ACCA notes with concern that mining and extractives impact severely on the lives, health and livelihoods of people, in particular African women, living in and around mining areas. The ACCA also notes with concern the issue of women safety and security in mines along with the deep socio-economic impacts often resulting from mining activities.
The ACCA therefore calls upon mining companies to work together with communities to respect Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) before, during and after mining operations to ensure that just compensation is provided for everyone impacted by their mining operations.
The ACCA endorses the demands contained in the AMI 2018 Declaration and calls on its members to monitor the implementation of these demands in their respective countries.
The ACCA thanks the AMI Steering Committee for providing it with a platform to present the findings from its research on Access to Remedy, in a session entitled: Access to remedy pillar (United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights). The ACCA looks forward to a stronger alliance with the AMI Steering Committee towards creating enduring platforms for amplifying the voices of communities impacted by mining and activists who advocate for them.
For more information on the ACCA and media requests, please contact Damian Oakes, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
