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EGP Newsletter

News from the Environmental Governance Programme on environment, human rights and mining - a joint initiative by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and UNDP

By Environmental Governance Programme (EGP)

December 9^th, 2019

GENDER EQUALITY IN MINING: EGP SESSION AT IGF

Advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in the mining sector is crucial to maximizing mining benefits, minimizing harm and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

To sensitize countries on the importance of gender quality in mining, the EGP organized an interactive session on 'Transformative tools for promoting gender equality in mining governance' at the 15th Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum for Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF). EGP presented resources and practical examples that government officials can draw on to empower women and achieve gender equality in mining. Inputs from the session will also be used to develop webinars and an interactive training with other partners.

Read the IGF-AGM final communiqué and summary report.
Watch the EGP video interview on gender and mining in Colombia with Lilia Fernanda Benavides Burbano, Advisor on Gender Issues, Ministry of Mines and Energy.

EGP session at the 15th Annual General Meeting of the IGF. Photo by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis.

Mozambique public awareness campaign videos

Mozambique's National Mining Institute (INAMI/Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy) has recently launched a public awareness-raising campaign about environmental governance and human rights protection in the mining sector, with support from the EGP.

Watch the campaign videos with English captions.

egp bROWN BAG LUNCH discussion on environment and human rights AT UNDP HEADQUARTERS: presentations and recordings

The EGP hosted a Brown Bag Lunch Discussion with Dr David Boyd, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, and Flaviano Bianchini, Director of Source International, at UNDP Headquarters in New York this October.

The UN Special Rapporteur spoke about the legal and practical benefits of taking a holistic approach to address these inseparable issues and the importance of a global recognition for the right to a healthy and sustainable environment. Source International shared a case study from Peru illustrating how participatory environmental monitoring in the mining sector can advance progress across multiple SDGs while ensuring the right to a healthy environment.

Download Source International's presentation.
Watch the Brown Bag Lunch Discussion's full recordings on YouTube.

Children in Cerro de Pasco, Peru, such suffer severe health impacts caused by mining, including contamination by heavy metals. Credits: © SOURCE International.

One of the various houses in Cerro de Pasco, Peru, with structural damage and cracks caused by nearby mining activities. Credits: © SOURCE International.

WEBINAR SERIES FOR NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS

In recent years, the recognition of the link between human rights and the environment has greatly increased. The number and scope of international and domestic laws, judicial decisions, and academic studies on this relationship has grown rapidly. In addition, there is a growing global concern over the threats, intimidation, attacks against and killings of environmental defenders, as well as a deeper appreciation of their vital role in promoting a healthy environment.

Despite growing awareness, skills and tools to address these issues in an integrated manner are still lacking. To bridge this gap the EGP in collaboration with the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment, the Global Alliance for National Human Rights Institutions, the UN Environment Programme, and the UNDP Learning for Nature programme organized of a series of interactive webinars for National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs). The webinars focused on the oversight role of NHRIs in implementing international laws and norms and protecting and promoting human rights related to the environment at the national level.

The webinars were conducted in English, Spanish and French and focused on Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Canada.

Read the concept note for this webinar series.
Check other free online learning courses and webinars on UNDP's Learning for Nature platform.

Copper mine in Mongolia. Credits: © iStock.com/DieterMeyrl.

Flooded church in a toxic red lake polluted by a copper mine in Geamana, Romania. Photo credits: © iStock.com/salajean.

launch of egp report at INTERNATIONAL PEACEBUILDING CONFERENCE

The EGP participated in the 1st International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding, which was held at the University of California at Irvine on October 23-25, 2019.

The EGP organized a panel discussion on 'Tools to Reduce Socio-Environmental Conflict Associated with Mining: Policy Options for Host Governments in Emerging Producing Countries', which also featured the launch of the report on participatory environmental monitoring committees in Latin America and a soft launch of the users guide on Rule of Law in public administration: mining sector.

The EGP panel highlighted the importance of community-based approaches to prevent socio-environmental conflicts. It showcased the value of establishing participatory environmental monitoring committees.

Report on Participatory Environmental Monitoring Committees in Mining Contexts: Lessons from Nine Case Studies in Four Latin American Countries.

egp annual workshop: report and videos

The 2019 EGP Annual Global Workshop was held from October 10-11 in Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop was organized in parallel with the 15th Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development, which took place from October 8-11.

Representatives from ministries of mining and environment, environmental protection agencies, human rights commissions, civil society and development practitioners from Mongolia, Kenya, Mozambique, Colombia, Sweden and New York, met to exchange knowledge and experiences on responsible and human rights-based environmental governance of the mining sector.

The EGP workshop was designed to enable remote participation to reduce its ecological footprint It featured: a video message from the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment, David Boyd, that highlighted EGP’s strategic importance; and testimonials from the Young Environmental Journalists on their pilot project to raise awareness about environmental and human rights protection in the mining sector in Colombia, Kenya, Mongolia and Mozambique.

Read the EGP workshop report.
Visit the workshop website and check the photo gallery.

2019 EGP Annual Global Workshop Report: Learning and Reflection to Inform the Next Phase of the Programme.

listen to the EGP Song!

A song about environmental governance was composed by Bruce Aronson, Matthew Einsidler and Sanna Due for the EGP and launched during the 2019 EGP Annual Global Workshop.

The EGP is grateful to the composers and songwriters for their pro-bono contribution.

Kenya interview: Integrating Human Rights Protection in the Mining Sector

Stella Ngotho Wangechi, Senior Human Rights Officer, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, gave an interview about environmental governance and human rights protection in Kenya's mining sector during the EGP Annual Global Workshop. This interview was conducted by Maria Bang, EGP Programme Manager, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.

Watch the full interview on EGP's Vimeo page.

FIRST ARTICLE BY THE YOUNG ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS PUBLISHED IN KENYA

An article on Health Risks: New initiatives being adopted to enhance mercury-free gold mining in Kenya, that was prepared by the Young Environmental Journalists Akinyi Chemutai, Charity Migwi and Laura Docking has been recently featured in Kenya's Daily Reporter newspaper.

71 young professionals and students from all over the world participated in the EGP Young Environmental Journalist pilot project to raise awareness about environmental and human rights protection in the mining sector in resource-rich countries. They were recruited through the United Nations Volunteers and completed training on the 2030 Agenda, environment and human rights, mining, storytelling, and investigative journalism.

Read the full article on Daily Reporter's website.
Learn more about the Young Environmental Journalists.

A man washing diamonds in a mine in Kono, Sierra Leone. Photo credits: © iStock.com/Abenaa.

GLOBAL COURSE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENT NEXUS

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) has recently organized an advanced global course on the Human Rights and Environment Nexus in collaboration with the EGP. To facilitate co-creation, new partnerships and a platform for global joint learning, the course was digitally streamed and conducted at three regional hubs in Bogota, Bangkok and Nairobi. EGP Young Environmental Journalists and focal points participated in the Nairobi and Bogota courses.

Watch the opening session with Marie Ottosson, Sida's Deputy Director-General, and David Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Environment.
Watch the course's videos and presentation s.
Watch the video interview with Young Environmental Journalist Akinyi Chemutai.

Illustration with key messages from the global course on the Human Rights and Environmental Nexus. Credits: © Sida/Caroline Sellstone

eNVIRONMENTAL gOVERNANCE pROGRAMME (egp)

In 2014 the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and UNDP launched the Environmental Governance Programme for Sustainable Natural Resource Management, focusing on the mining sector. The EGP supports countries to integrate environment and human rights into the governance of the mining sector.

The EGP is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

CONTACT US:

SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, STOCKHOLM

Focal point:

Maria Bang: Maria.Bang@Naturvardsverket.se

UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, BUREAU FOR POLICY AND PROGRAMME SUPPORT, NEW YORK

Focal points:

Ann-Cathrin Pedersen: ann.pedersen@undp.org
Sanna Due: sanna.due@undp.org

Footnotes

Cover picture: Tranquil Romanian landscape distorted by polluted water originating from mining activities. Credits: © iStock.com/aeduard.

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FootNotes

Cover picture: Tranquil Romanian landscape distorted by polluted water originating from mining activities. Credits: © iStock.com/aeduard.

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