Why gender matters - Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining ...

Background reader
What is covered in the Background reader?
This Background reader is a companion piece to Part 2 -
Guidance on “how to”, and has four main sections:
Section 1 – Gender concepts
Section 2 – The rationale for integrating gender into community work in mining
Section 3 – The gendered nature of mining impacts and benefits
Section 4 – International protocols and standards for gender
These sections provide additional
detail to Part 2. They aim to
help practitioners deepen their
knowledge in gender and mining.
A brief overview of each section
is provided below.
Section 1 – Gender concepts
Part 2 – Guidance on “how
to” covered some of the key
concepts associated with gender
and mining. Section 1 provides
additional detail on:
– the difference between the
terms “sex” and “gender”;
– gender roles;
– why gender tends to focus
on women;
– gender equality and equity; and
– gender mainstreaming.
Section 2 – The rationale
for integrating gender into
community work in mining
Section 2 presents a rationale
for why Rio Tinto seeks to ensure
a strong focus on gender in
community work, including how it
will help the company increase its
capacity to:
– minimise negative impacts
of mining;
– gain and maintain a social
licence to operate;
– support local and Indigenous
employment opportunities;
– uphold corporate commitments
to human rights;
– advance Rio Tinto’s sustainable
development objectives; and
– improve access to finance.
Section 3 – The gendered nature
of mining impacts and benefits
We know that the effects of
mining are experienced in a
variety of ways, depending on a
person’s gender, ethnicity, age,
class and a range of other factors.
This section outlines some of these
impacts, with a particular focus
on women, along the following
thematic lines:
– negotiation and engagement;
– local employment;
– socio-economic and
environmental aspects; and
– special issues: resettlement
and displacement, HIV and
small scale mining.
Section 4 – International protocols
for gender mainstreaming
There are numerous international
agreements, initiatives and
policies that have helped frame the
gender and development debate.
These frameworks have emerged
over many years of concerted
international and local activism
seeking to improve the rights of
women and bring the need for
gender equality to the forefront of
the development agenda. These
frameworks embody the principles
of gender equality agreed upon
by the international community.
Section 4 outlines some of the key
frameworks that have contributed
to the international discourse on
gender equality.
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