In celebration of the 95th anniversary of the mining sector, the Ministry of Mining and Heavy Industry held a “Gender in the Minerals Sector” seminar in Ulaanbaatar in collaboration with the SESMIM Project.
In attendance were Minister of Mining and Heavy Industry D. Sumiyabaza and State Secretary G. Nandinjargal, Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection S. Mungunchimeg, and “Women in the Canadian Mining Sector” NGO Head Siri S. Genik, as well as representatives from the artisanal mining community, the ASM National Federation’s Monitoring Committee, and the head of Govi-Altai aimag’s “Altain bichil uurhaichdiin ev negdliin holboo” NGO.
A citizens’ representative from Yesunbulag soum, Ch. Myadagbadam, spoke on “Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining, Women and the Local Community”. During her presentation, she said: “Our Altai artisanal miners’ federation successfully formalised more than 350 citizens, saved money from their income, and provided more income-diversification opportunities for them. This includes auto repair shops, Mongolian national boots, dumpling shops, and tailors. We’re also working on developing alternative income streams and pushing for more women to be placed in the job market. From 2012-2016, a total of MNT 32.44 million was paid in taxes, health insurance and social welfare, and from 2012-2017, we successfully rehabilitated 77.71 hectares of land at our own expense.”
During the seminar, participants discussed the current state of such programs as the Mongolian Sustainable Development Approach-2030, the Law on Gender Equality, the National Program on Ensuring Gender Equality (2017-2021), and how they correlated in raising awareness about gender, and subsequent actions that need to be to taken.
