A group, Women in Mining Nigeria, (WIMIN), have raised the alarm that its members involved in mining activities are constantly harassed sexually and raped across mining sites in Nasarawa State and are abandon to their fate thereafter.
National President of the Association, Engr. Janet Adeyemi, stated this on Saturday during a two-day policy dialogue with stakeholders in the mining sector in Nasarawa State, with the theme ‘Understanding and strengthening collaborative responses to combat sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in mining host communities’.
They decried lack of access to mining rights and licences, which they said is created by government’s complex bureaucratic procedures.
This, they said, has created a huge stumbling block to their mining businesses and rape of female workers at mining sites.
She said WIMIN has risen up to eradicate women and children abuse in the mining sector as these vulnerable groups have suffered for too long and nothing is done to help the situation.
Engr. Adeyemi further explained that everything within their capacity would be done to make the industry convenient for women and children irrespective of their backgrounds.
She said: “Sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) is a persistent and alarming issue in Africa affecting individuals regardless of age, gender, religion or socio-economic status.“
In Nigeria, the prevalence of SGBV is particularly concerning, with statistics indicating high rates of violence against women and girls.
According to the Nigerian National Bureau of Statistics and the United Nations Population Fund, UNFPA, 28% of Nigerian women have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives, and 43.6% of women have experienced some form of violence in their lifetime.
“The solid mineral sector is not exempted from this problem as it faces unique challenges that contribute to the perpetuation of SGBV. The resurgence of mining in Nigeria has provided a source of livelihood for women in remote and rural areas of mining-intensive states.“
Paradoxically, these women’s survival is jeopardised by the very industry they turn to despite the perceived income of opportunities.
A concerning 23.1% of women in mining communities experience sexual violence, compared to 18.7% in non-mining communities,” she said.
She explained that the intricacies of this problem are underscored by the interaction of weak regulatory structures, a male dominated industry, informal and illegal mining operations, and limited access to quality prevention and support services.
She expressed confidence that the policy dialogue will inspire civil society organizations, government agencies and stakeholders in the sector to device actionable solutions to address sexual violence.
Also speaking, Nasarawa State Coordinator, National Human Rights Commission, Nduka Ezenwogu, a lawyer, admitted that many women working in the mining sector get raped.
“Some are paid peanuts for all the effort put in at the mining sites. Curiously, most of these cases are unreported, hence the need for a forum like this to address the menace.”
He explained that the commission was ready to work with WIMIN in the promotion, protection of human rights especially that of women engaged in mining activities.
Other speakers at the event were the representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Women Affairs, among others.
