The first National Network of Women in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining is created

Last March 7, during the activities for the framework of the International Day of Working Women, the presentation of the first National Women’s Network in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM). This new network is made up of around 400 citizens dedicated to this sector, who are workers from the areas of Madre de Dios, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Ica, Nazca, Junín and Puno.

Also this is the first union of mining women that is part of the MAPE. In addition, they received support from the Solidaridad organization to form the network. Maria Reyes, elected president of the National Network of Women in ASM, explained that the new organization seeks to strengthen and train the members of these sectors.

“We are a network that seeks organize, strengthen, empower and provide the necessary support to gender within the sector. Our first objective is to strengthen and train the women miners of the associations, and those who develop independent activities. As well as those who promote visibility and participation in artisanal and small-scale mining,” Reyes reported at the event held for International Women’s Day.

Likewise, he pointed out that the following activities that they must carry out as a union will be to coordinate and organize meetings with different officials in order to have opportunities for change, and that the MRI-MAPE can be included in the current process of formulating the National Multisectoral Policy for Small Mining and Artisanal Mining.

“One of our goals is that we can be included within the regulations of artisanal mining and small mining, since the current one does not do so,” Reyes stressed.

On your side, Maurice Winkelriedorganization manager Solidarity, who supported the creation of this initiative, explained that, thanks to this network, women workers in the mining sector, they will be able to give their points of view and indicate their needs in order to achieve an improvement in their working and living conditions.

“We seek to create spaces where mining women and the different members of the ASM can participate as part of the Revaloro project. Also, we are facilitating a series of workshops with different unions of artisanal miners in the country where they can express their opinions regarding a new policy that the State is preparing for the development of this sector,” said Winkelried.

Finally, Luis Landa, project coordinator I revalue of the Solidaridad organization—which seeks to contribute to improving the quality of life of men and women in artisanal and small-scale mining (MAPE)—pointed out that their mining programwhich began in 2021 with meetings and workshops held with women mining leaders in different regions of the countrywill continue until 2025.