Human Rights Risks in Mining. BGR/GIZ Country Study Mauritania 2018
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Human Rights Risks in Mining BGR / GIZ Country Study Mauritania | 3 4 | BGR / GIZ Country Study Mauritania (2018) – Human Rights Risks in Mining Abbreviations and Acronyms ASM �������������������������� Artisanal and Small Scale Mining OMRG �������������������� L’Office Mauritanien de Recherches BGR ��������������������������� Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften Géologique und Rohstoffe SAMIA ������������������� Société Arabe des Industries Métallurgique CGTM ��������������������� Confédération Generale des Travailleurs de Mauritanie SCA ��������������������������� Sub-Committee on Accreditation of GANHRI CLTM ����������������������� Confédération Libre des Travailleurs SENI SA ���������������� Société d’Extraction du Nord de l’Inchiri S�A� de Mauritanie SMHPM ��������������� Société Mauritanienne des Hydrocarbures et CSR ��������������������������� Corporate Social Responsibility du Patrimoine Minier DFS ��������������������������� Definitive Feasibility Study SNIM ����������������������� Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière de DMG ������������������������ Direction des Mines et de la Géologie Mauritanie ESIA ������������������������� Environmental and Social Impact Assessment SOMISEL ������������ Société Mauritanienne des Industries du Sel FPIC ������������������������� Free Prior and Informed Consent TML SA ����������������� Tasiast Mauritanie Limited S�A� FQM ������������������������� First Quantum Minerals GANHRI �������������� Global Alliance on National Human Rights UN ����������������������������� United Nations Institutions UNDRIP �������������� UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous GIZ ���������������������������� Gesellschaft für Internationale Peoples Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH ������������� ILO ���������������������������� International Labour Organization UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization MCM ����������������������� Mauritanian Copper Mines MIFERMA ���������� Société Anonyme de Fer de Mauritanie USGS ����������������������� United States Geological Survey NHRI ����������������������� National Human Rights Institution UTM ������������������������� Union des Travailleurs de Mauritanie Programme information This study is a product of the sector programmes Extractives and Development and Realizing Human Rights including Children and Youth Rights in Development Cooperation. The Extractives and Development sector programme is implemented jointly by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). For more information please visit: www.bmz.de/rue/en Contacts: Leopold von Carlowitz (GIZ), Johannes Danz (BGR) Realizing Human Rights including Children and Youth Rights in Development Cooperation is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). For more information, please visit: www.giz.de/human-rights Contact: Viola Bölscher (GIZ) | 5 Contents Abbreviations and Acronyms .................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 1. Objective and Methodology .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 2. Mauritania’s Economic Background ............................................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Mining Sector Legislative Framework and State Institutions ............................................................................................ 8 2.1.1 Mining Law in Mauritania ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 State Institutions ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10 3. Human Rights System in Mauritania ............................................................................................................................................ 11 3.1 Legal Framework (International, Regional, National) ................................................................................................................. 11 3.2 Institutions .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 4. Human Rights Risks in the Industrial Mining Sector ................................................................................. 14 4.1 The Industrial Mining Sector: Technical Overview ......................................................................................................................... 14 4.1.1 SNIM Iron Ore Mines ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1.2 Tasiast Gold Mine (Kinross Gold Corp.) .......................................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1.3 Guelb Moghrein Copper-Gold Mine (First Quantum Minerals, FQM) ............................................................................. 16 4.1.4 Other Industrial Sector Mining Operations .............................................................................................................................................. 17 4.1.4.1 Gypsum ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.1.4.2 Salt Mining ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17 4.1.4.3 Quartz Mining ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 4.1.5 Exploration Companies ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 4.1.5.1 Algold Resources Ltd – Gold Exploration / Development ......................................................................................... 18 4.1.5.2 Aura Energy – Uranium Exploration Projects ........................................................................................................................ 18 4.1.5.3 Phosphate Development Projects ................................................................................................................................................... 19 4.1.5.4 Mineral Sands ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 4.2 Human Rights Risks ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20 4.2.1 Right to Information / Participation / Free, Prior and Informed Consent .................................................................... 20 4.2.2 Area Clearing / Resettlement ................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2.3 Settlement Growth Adjacent to Mine Sites ............................................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.4 Environmental Impact ................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23 4.2.5 Labour / Workers Rights ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 4.2.5.1 Occupational Health & Safety .............................................................................................................................................................. 25 4.2.5.2 Labour Unions / Freedom of Association ................................................................................................................................... 26 4.2.5.3 Subcontract and Temporary Workers ........................................................................................................................................... 27 4.2.6 Closure (Environmental & Social Impact) ..................................................................................................................................................