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Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

Members of the planetGOLD global team reflect on equitable opportunities for women

By planetGOLD

March 8^th, 2024

The theme of International Women's Day in 2024 is #InspireInclusion — a call to understand and value women's equitable inclusion in whatever spaces they wish to join. Today and every day, the planetGOLD programme joins allies all over the world in a commitment to equitably include women in efforts to support responsible, mercury-free artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) as a dignified source of livelihoods.

Women working in artisanal and small-scale gold mining typically face discrimination at all stages of the ASGM value chain. Despite making up 30 percent of the global artisanal and small-scale mining workforce, women's work is often undervalued and impeded. But the reality is, women have critical roles to play in advancing more environmentally and socially responsible mining practices.

This year as we commemorate International Women's Day, project staff, miners, and others from many of our planetGOLD country projects shared their perspectives on why it is critical to include women in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector, and in the movement to advance more responsible mining practices.

Scroll below to view a selection of their reflections.

"It is important to include black women in responsible mining because with their ancestral extraction practices, they rescue the culture and responsibly contribute to the care of the environment."

Liliana Golu and Ana Ruth Aguilar, Artisanal Miners, Buenos Aires, Cauca, Colombia

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because women offer a diverse perspective, contributing to better decision-making."

Engr. Jinky Jane Tero, National Technologist-Engineer, planetGOLD Philippines

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because women have high levels of productivity and innovation that can lead to increased economic empowerment and community development."

Jacob Omal, planetGOLD Uganda

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because we also contribute to the work of our cooperatives and we want to do it well by learning about mercury and the environment."

Norma Alvarez, Artisanal Miner, San Ramon, Bolivia

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because they are the backbone of the society and responsible mining results in higher productivity."

Winnfred Masaku, Project Assistant, planetGOLD Kenya

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because we are responsible, entrepreneurial, creative and we are in charge of building that balance between the present and the future."

Luz Dary Jaimes Moncada, Artisanal Miner, Santa Rosa, Bolívar, Colombia

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in ASGM because they have the same rights as men. By taking their experiences into account, we can bring about change in the artisanal mining sector, which has traditionally been dominated by men."

Aboubacar Démé, Community Outreach Coordinator, planetGOLD Burkina Faso

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because it breaks down gender stereotypes in the ASGM sector and ensures equal access to clean technologies."

Sandra Lucía Guzman, Gender Specialist, planetGOLD Peru

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"Inspire inclusion in the artisanal and small-scale mining community, where every individual's unique contribution is celebrated and valued, fostering a culture of equality and empowerment for all."

Munkhtseren Togtokhsuren, planetGOLD Mongolia

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

“It is important to include women in responsible mining because their participation fosters diversity, promotes equitable opportunities, and enhances the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of mining communities.”

Rose Nakawuma, planetGOLD Uganda

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because women get the job done."

Darla Padayao, Miner, Northern Sagada Barangays Small-Scale Mining Association, Inc., Philippines

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because we are very important for the mining sector since there are more and more mining members in cooperatives."

Susana Fernandez, Cooperative Member, Bolivia

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because the majority of us are women who are heads of families and mining is the easiest profession for us to access. We can also contribute to improving the environment and we have many ideas or strategies to achieve responsible mining."

Yolanda del Socorro Sepúlveda Hernandez, Artisanal Miner, El Doce, Tarazá, Antioquia

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining given their steadfast commitment, resilience and creativity in safeguarding natural resources and continuity of life."

Dean Stewart Ocama, planetGOLD Uganda

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because women's participation in decision-making is essential in environmental governance."

Dr. Edgar Cue, College President, Mountain Province State Polytechnic College, Philippines

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include black women in responsible mining because their ancestral mining practices do not generate environmental impacts and contribute to development, peace and the defense of the territory."

María Orfa Ararat, Artisanal Miner, Buenos Aires, Cauca, Colombia

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because women will be able to earn money and with money comes empowerment and thus, they will be able to sustain their homes and families."

Alex Muhwezi, planetGOLD Uganda

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because they play a key role in society’s socio-economic development."

Dolphine Magware, Finance Officer, planetGOLD Kenya

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

"It is important to include women in responsible mining because women deserve equal opportunities in mining."

Janice Gallero, Miner, Samahan ng mga Minero sa Barangay Casalugan (SMBC), Paracale, Philippines

Working to "Inspire Inclusion" of Women in Responsible Small-Scale Gold Mining

. . .

Footnotes

Photos and quotes courtesy of planetGOLD project staff in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Kenya, Mongolia, Peru, the Philippines, and Uganda

FootNotes

Photos and quotes courtesy of planetGOLD project staff in Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Kenya, Mongolia, Peru, the Philippines, and Uganda

© 2026 planetGOLD

GOLD WITHOUT MERCURY

Intergenerational actions for responsible artisanal mining in the north of Peru

ORO SIN MERCURIO

Acciones intergeneracionales para una minería artesanal responsable en el norte del Perú

Uso de tecnologías limpias

En el sur del Perú, las mujeres y hombres de la MAPE están impulsando una minería sin mercurio, responsable e inclusiva.

Clean Technologies Use

In southern Peru, women and men in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) are promoting mercury-free, responsible, and inclusive mining.

Storytelling Empowers Indonesian Students to Stamp Out Mercury Use

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Visualizing a Future with Formalized Artisanal and Small Scale Gold Mining

The Historic Gold Town of Paracale

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