End Child Poverty took part in the high-impact Alternative Mining Indaba Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, from 8th-11th February 2016.
Its overarching theme, “Making Natural Resources Work for the People: Leave No One Behind”, was based on the premise of forging constructive dialogue between communities, government and business investors in the mining and extractives industry.
Organised alongside the corresponding business sector Investing in African Mining Indaba, the Alternative Mining Indaba Conference (AMI 2016) successfully provided a platform for communities affected by the extractives industries, to reclaim their rights, through the formulation of inclusive alternatives.
It successfully created meaningful advocacy, decision making and engagement spaces for communities affected by mining. Community representatives called for transparent, equitable and just extractives practices in the management, governance and distribution of national resources through policy and legislative reform.
350 participating leaders drawn from civil society organizations, faith based organizations, pan–African network and organizations, UN agencies, International partners, labour movements and community based organizations representing affected communities across Africa, further gave voice to the issue.
This Cape Town alternative conference was convened by the Economic Justice Network of the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa (EJN of FOCCISA), in collaboration with Publish What You Pay, Norwegian Church Aid, Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association, South African Council of Churches, Zimbabwe Council of Churches, Diakonia, Oxfam and Bench Marks Foundation.
Participants at the AMI 2016 Conference Advocating for the rights of communities. © End Child Poverty
End Child Poverty now seeks more platforms to address the unheard voices of children, recognising that children in communities affected by extractive industries have had a peripheral position in the conversation, despite the many challenges they face.
For more information on children’s rights and the mining industry, kindly talk to us