On March 7, 2022, in Lima, Peru, the first National Network of Women in Artisanal and Small -scale Mining was launched, with the support of Solidaridad Organization within the framework of the Revaloro project, with the aim of empowering and supporting women in the mining sector, providing visibility and well-being within artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). The network is made up of 25 women who represent different mining associations at the national level.
Leading woman miners
Constituted as the Confederation of the national network of women in small-scale mining and artisanal mining, (RNM-MAPE for its initials in Spanish) the organization unites the voices of mining women in Peru so that they can materialize their projects, improve their working conditions, and be included in the ASM regulations.
This milestone is important to strengthen the gender perspective in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, and promote the development of the sector, hand in hand with a team of leading women who know and rely on expert entities in sustainability and responsible mining.
The network connects different departments of the country:
– Puno: 16 participants from Puno make up the network. 15 of them are pallaquera leaders from the Rinconada and Lunar de Oro associations. Nancy Condori is part of this group, she is the women’s representative of the Fairmined certified mining organization CECOMIP, and also leader of the Divinas en Brillo de Oro Association, which is dedicated to the elaboration of handcrafted gold and silver jewelry by women of the region.
– Arequipa: 3 women leaders, among them María Reyes, representative of the pallaqueras – MACDESA organization.
– Madre de Dios: 3 women, including the president of the AMATAF association: Vilma Contreras.
– Junin has the participation of a mining leader.
The National Network of ASM women RNM-MAPE was established thanks to the joint work of the woman miners, particularly the women of Puno, with whom ARM works.
"We want to empower women and promote gender policies within artisanal and small-scale mining"
The steering committee of the National Network of ASM Women has 5 women in its lineup who work on projects with the Alliance for Responsible Mining: Julia Pomalique, Vilma Contreras, María Reyes, Teodora Palli and Nancy Condori. “We want to empower women and promote gender policies within artisanal and small-scale mining” concluded María Reyes, president of RNM-MAPE
The Alliance for Responsible Mining continues with its training agenda for men and women on gender-based violence topics in the Puno and Ananea area, while advising mining organizations on their path towards sustainability. Fairmined certified mining associations such as Cecomip are an example of the improvements on gender awareness, creating spaces dedicated to the participation of women, such as the creation of CECOMIP’s gender committee.
