End Preventable Deaths in Mining – Justice & Safety for Women in Africa

PETITION: Silent 15 of Bilalikoto – Urging the AU to Strengthen Mining Safety & Economic Inclusion for Women in Mining

📅 Launched by: Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa)

📍 Target: African Union (AU), African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC), National Governments, Development Banks, Mining Companies

📢 WHY THIS PETITION MATTERS

On February 15, 2025, at least 48 women miners lost their lives in a devastating mine collapse in Bilalikoto, Mali. These women, like thousands across Africa, were working in unregulated, unsafe artisanal mining conditions, struggling to earn a living with limited protection, no financial access, and little government support.

Women in mining are not in these conditions by choice—they turn to artisanal mining out of economic necessity, often as the only means of survival.

We recognize the African Union’s leadership in advancing responsible mining through the African Mining Vision (AMV) and its commitment to Agenda 2063’s goal of gender equality and sustainable economic growth. However, the persistent loss of lives in artisanal mining sites highlights the urgent need for stronger action to bridge the gap between policy and reality.

This is not just about Mali—across Africa, thousands of women miners face:⚠ Frequent mine collapses and unsafe working conditions⚠ Lack of effective enforcement of artisanal mining regulations⚠ Exploitation by middlemen and informal gold buyers⚠ Limited access to safer mining alternatives or financial support

💡 This must change.

We call on the African Union, National Governments, Development Banks, and Mining Industry Leaders to strengthen efforts to protect women in mining and prevent further loss of lives.

📜 WHAT WE ARE URGING THE AU TO DO

✅ 1. Strengthen Implementation of Artisanal Mining Safety & Regulation

• Encourage AU member states to align national mining laws with the African Mining Vision (AMV) by enforcing strict safety standards and legalizing artisanal mining under regulated frameworks.

• Support national governments in establishing safer artisanal mining zones where miners can operate without life-threatening risks.

✅ 2. Ensure Accountability in the Gold Supply Chain

• Collaborate with national mining regulators to track and regulate middlemen and gold buyers, ensuring fair pricing and stopping exploitation of women miners.

• Promote ethical sourcing policies, requiring mining companies and buyers to source gold only from legally recognized, safe artisanal mining sites.

✅ 3. Expand Access to Finance & Economic Alternatives for Women in Mining

• Partner with development banks and financial institutions to create low-interest credit facilities, grant programs, and business training for women miners.

• Encourage AU member states to fund alternative income programs for women miners, allowing them to transition into safer and higher-value mining roles such as mineral processing and mining services.

✅ 4. Drive Gender-Inclusive Mining Policy at the National Level • Work with AU member states to integrate gender-specific protections into mining regulations, ensuring that women miners receive equal access to land rights, financial resources, and safety protections. • Support the establishment of national women in mining advocacy units to provide a voice for women miners in policy discussions.

✅ 5. Lead in the Creation of an Emergency Mining Disaster Response Plan

• Establish an AU-coordinated disaster response framework to ensure rapid aid, medical assistance, and long-term support for mining communities affected by accidents.

• Encourage governments to create a Victims’ Compensation & Safety Fund to provide relief for affected families.

📢 WHY YOUR SIGNATURE MATTERS

The AU has already demonstrated its commitment to responsible mining, gender equity, and economic inclusion through the African Mining Vision and Agenda 2063. Now is the time to accelerate action and translate these commitments into urgent reforms that protect women miners.

By signing this petition, you are:

✅ Supporting AU-led efforts to improve artisanal mining safety and sustainability.

✅ Calling for stronger collaboration between the AU, national governments, and mining stakeholders to protect women miners.

✅ Urging policymakers to close the gap between policy and reality, ensuring no more lives are lost in preventable mining disasters.