Resource information
Recent studies in the DRC tend to focus
on human rights abuses or on the status of women, however
few investigations examine the link between mining and
sexual violence. There is a dearth of research specifically
into the gender dimensions of artisanal and small-scale
mining (ASM) as a means to economic security for both men
and women. Further, there has been insufficient analysis of
the real and potential threats to women’s human rights in
the artisanal mining sector in DRC. Once these threats are
identified, governmental and other partners can be informed
as to protective and restorative actions they can take to
assure the rights of vulnerable groups within mining
communities. With improved understanding of the
vulnerabilities, opportunities, and human rights threats
facing women in conflict-affected small-scale mining areas,
governmental and NGO partners can be better informed both
how to prevent violations of rights, as well as how to
promote rights and improve economic and social outcomes for
women and communities. The ASM sector has been noted as a
significant element in the ongoing conflict in DRC, with
particularly negative implications for women, but also has
the potential to lead to considerable economic gains. The
objectives of the study will be to: (i) identify the key
gender dimensions of ASM in the Kivus, particularly in terms
of how conflict exacerbates or changes what is already known
about the gender dimensions of ASM and to understand the
human rights issues facing women; (ii) identify specific
sources of gendered vulnerability to human rights abuses
within AMS communities and identify ways to address these
vulnerabilities; and (iii) identify methodologies of
resilience or positive coping in communities.
