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GWMO appointed member of UN’s Mining Working Group
The invaluable contributions of the Guyana Women Miners’ Organization (GWMO) to expand opportunities for women in the extractive industry were recently recognized during the 57th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
The GWMO is now a board member of the Mining Working Group (MWG) at the United Nations. This body contributes to the UN General Assembly’s Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals.
Simona Broomes, President of GWMO (third right) and members of the Mining Working Group (MWG) at the United Nations
According to the MWG at the UN, the body works for improvements in national and international law, policy, and practice to ensure that extractive activity: meets and upholds the highest human rights standards; cedes to ecological limits and planetary boundaries, takes all possible measures to minimize negative impacts at every stage, and includes effective guarantees for maximum restoration; and contributes to just and responsible economic, social, and sustainable development for the host country, with a priority for the local communities most directly affected.
Earlier this month, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Broomes made a presentation on “The impact of gender in the extractive industry and how it links to human trafficking” to the MWG. It was following this presentation that the GWMO was requested to be a member of the MWG.
Ironically, since the GWMO became operational two years ago, members have been advocating for a seat with voting rights on the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission’s Board. However, Robert Persaud, Minister of the Natural Resources and the Environment, is only willing to give the organization, which has over 400 members, observer membership.
According to Broomes, the GWMO is not fighting to be a member on the GGMC Board for recognition or status, but to help make decisions relevant to the wellbeing of women in the industry.
She emphasized that while Government is boasting about gender equality at the political and educational levels, the mining sector is a perfect example of gender inequality in Guyana. The sector continues to be male-dominated and for this very reason “women are sidelined and treated lesser than reptiles”.
Broomes related that the Ministry invited the GWMO to have observer membership on the Mining School Board. But, again the GWMO will have to refuse since it is unwilling to take any observer position on any Board.
She emphasized that the GWMO has a vision to see women exposed to similar opportunities like men in the extractive industry. And a learning institution would have been the best place to start the equality process since education is a liberator from poverty, Broomes added.
However, she said, the GWMO is privileged to be part of the MWG and has welcomed this new role and responsibility that would allow the organization to contribute positively to the extractive industry worldwide.
According to Broomes, while focus has been placed on gold and diamond mining because of membership, GWMO was created to benefit women in the extractive industry, which includes bauxite, sand and coal. As such, the organization will be reaching out to these other areas.
She noted that gravitating more to the gold and diamond mining sector was based on her popularity among her fellow miners. In fact, her colleagues have been helpful in her fight to combat human trafficking which has plagued the industry for decades.
Within the past two years, because of the efforts of the organization to eliminate the stigma that women in the sector are prostitutes, more women are comfortable working in the gold bush. It is this new confidence that demands the eradication of social ills and construction of proper infrastructures.
Broomes said it saddening to see the Government boast about development in the mining sector when wealth is being extracted from the interior and no planned infrastructural development is taking place.
“We want to see real development coming into the mining sector. The GWMO wants to promote a better mining sector that is environmentally-friendly and must reflect the wealth that is being extracted,” she said.
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