Goal
To understand how women’s security in Democratic Republic of Congo’s artisanal cobalt communities affects child labour.
The Context
Women in artisanal mining have long been excluded from the wealth that the sector provides. Most often a poverty-driven activity, artisanal mining brings higher wages than other subsistence work and profits can come quicker than other activities such as agriculture. However, with deeply rooted cultural beliefs, women are often excluded from accessing this wealth while still being the primary caretakers for the households and children.
Research has found that women are present across Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) mine sites, however there are no reliable numbers of how many women work in the cobalt sector—only anecdotal accounts from media and civil society. Larger attention has been on the amount of child labour in DRC’s artisanal cobalt mines.
With growing attention on child labour, solutions have not yet proven effective or sustainable. Despite the importance of women in the sector and to their households—research to-date on the link between gender equality, women’s empowerment, and child labour in the sector have been only anecdotal.
By understanding the root causes of child labour in DRC’s cobalt sector and gaining a better understanding of the role of women in the community, new approaches will be found to support human rights and responsible sourcing.
What We Are Doing
IMPACT’s Her Security project aims to investigate how enhancing women’s security in artisanal cobalt and copper mining communities in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can improve livelihoods and decrease child labour. The project will examine various aspects of women’s security—including physical, economic, and energy—to lay a foundation for future evidence-based programs and policy interventions.
Project Stories
Press Releases & News
Families Depend on Income from Child Labour in Congo’s Cobalt Mines to Stave Off Hunger
Efforts to eliminate child labour in cobalt supply chains need to address root causes or risk further jeopardizing children’s safety and well-being July 13, 2023 – Ottawa, Canada IMPACT’s new […]
Read More for Families Depend on Income from Child Labour in Congo’s Cobalt Mines to Stave Off Hunger
Analysis Commentary
What’s the Link Between Women’s Security & Child Labour in DRC’s Cobalt Mines?
Gender and responsible sourcing are increasingly tied together, ensuring that the extraction of subsoil riches benefits all members in communities often dominated by patriarchal ideas. While women are a large […]
Read More for What’s the Link Between Women’s Security & Child Labour in DRC’s Cobalt Mines?
Analysis Commentary
“No One Has the Right to Judge”: Women’s Voices on Working in DRC’s Cobalt Sector
Cobalt fuels our smartphones, laptops, electric vehicles. Over 70 percent of the world’s cobalt comes from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and it’s estimated that almost a quarter of DRC’s […]
Read More for “No One Has the Right to Judge”: Women’s Voices on Working in DRC’s Cobalt Sector