Statement on Gender-Responsive Due Diligence and Ensuring the Human Rights of Women in Mineral Supply Chains

There is momentum on gender equality across sectors, including in mineral supply chains. Governments, the private sector and civil society are acknowledging that women’s rights are human rights, and that empowering women and girls is the best way to achieve positive economic and inclusive social development outcomes. Stakeholders are tackling gender discrimination, increasing the number of women in executive-level positions, ensuring greater inclusion of women-led business in local procurement and supporting women’s economic empowerment in artisanal mining communities.

This progress is welcome, but much more needs to be done to realize the rights enshrined in international human rights treaties and address the structural barriers that impede women and girls and other marginalized groups from equally contributing to and benefiting from responsible mineral supply chains.