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1/ Today @UNHumanRights publishes a report with special attention for the Arco Minero del Orinoco (AMO).
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session44/Documents/A_HRC_44_54.pdf
Some of the main takeaways (thread
):
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/HRC/RegularSessions/Session44/Documents/A_HRC_44_54.pdf
Some of the main takeaways (thread
):
2/ Corruption:


"Levels of labour, exploitation, trafficking and violence are high, due to the existence of a corruption and bribery scheme by groups controlling the mines whereby they pay off military commanders to maintain their presence and illegal activities."
"Levels of labour, exploitation, trafficking and violence are high, due to the existence of a corruption and bribery scheme by groups controlling the mines whereby they pay off military commanders to maintain their presence and illegal activities."
3/ Labour migration:
"Due to the economic crisis, internal migration to the mining area has increased dramatically, although there is no official information on the number of people currently engaged in mining within AMO. () The vast majority have no previous mining experience."
"Due to the economic crisis, internal migration to the mining area has increased dramatically, although there is no official information on the number of people currently engaged in mining within AMO. () The vast majority have no previous mining experience."
4/ Harsh labour conditions:
"Former miners reported that accidents were common, and they had witnessed landslides in which miners were buried alive."
"Former miners reported that accidents were common, and they had witnessed landslides in which miners were buried alive."
5/ Extortion:
"The vast majority of work in AMO is informal, with people lacking employment contracts. OHCHR identified a pattern of labour exploitation whereby miners are forced to give up a large percentage of the gold they extract to the various actors who control the mines."
"The vast majority of work in AMO is informal, with people lacking employment contracts. OHCHR identified a pattern of labour exploitation whereby miners are forced to give up a large percentage of the gold they extract to the various actors who control the mines."
6/ "Armed actors also practice extortion and often control essential supplies. OHCHR received reports of indigenous peoples required to pay for essential goods and services, such as fuel and medicines, in gold."
7/ "Additionally, miners have to pay high prices for food and water to vendors within the area, who in turn have to pay a fee to the criminal group or armed elements controlling the mines."
8/ Sexual exploitation:
"Several accounts highlighted a sharp increase since 2016 in prostitution, sexual exploitation and trafficking in mining areas, including of adolescent girls."
"Several accounts highlighted a sharp increase since 2016 in prostitution, sexual exploitation and trafficking in mining areas, including of adolescent girls."
9/ Child labour:
"OHCHR received reports that children as young as seven were present in mining areas, often unaccompanied, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Sources also reported children as young as nine or 10 working in the mines."
"OHCHR received reports that children as young as seven were present in mining areas, often unaccompanied, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Sources also reported children as young as nine or 10 working in the mines."
10/ Epidemics:
"The Pan American Health Organization ( @pahowho) identified mining municipalities in BolĂvar State as the main cause of an increase in malaria cases in Venezuela since 2015."
"The Pan American Health Organization ( @pahowho) identified mining municipalities in BolĂvar State as the main cause of an increase in malaria cases in Venezuela since 2015."
11/ "Malaria and other treatable conditions, such as diarrhoea and vaccine preventable diseases, such as measles, are rampant among the indigenous population, and often fatal, since communities often have little or no access to appropriate treatment."
12/ Torture:
"Criminal groups and armed elements use violence to exercise control over mining areas. Interviewees reported that harsh corporal punishments are inflicted upon those not complying with the rules imposed by these groups."
"Criminal groups and armed elements use violence to exercise control over mining areas. Interviewees reported that harsh corporal punishments are inflicted upon those not complying with the rules imposed by these groups."
13/ Killings:
"According to accounts received by OHCHR, bodies of miners are often thrown into old mining pits used as clandestine graves."
"According to accounts received by OHCHR, bodies of miners are often thrown into old mining pits used as clandestine graves."
14/ Loss of sovereignty:


"Military authorities informed OHCHR about security challenges they face, mainly due to the penetration of criminal groups in mining areas."


"Military authorities informed OHCHR about security challenges they face, mainly due to the penetration of criminal groups in mining areas."
15/ Violation of indigenous rights:
"[I]ndigenous peoples and various experts have consistently emphasized that the impact of mining on indigenous peoples’ rights extends far beyond the delineated AMO, including due to mining taking place throughout the surrounding area."
"[I]ndigenous peoples and various experts have consistently emphasized that the impact of mining on indigenous peoples’ rights extends far beyond the delineated AMO, including due to mining taking place throughout the surrounding area."
16/ "Mining has a differentiated impact on indigenous peoples and the enjoyment of their individual and collective rights, mainly due to the presence and actions of armed actors and environmental damage."
17/ "Indigenous peoples have also reported human rights abuses by criminal groups in Ye’kwana and Sanema territory, within AMO, including violence, theft, and sexual abuse of women."
18/ "While OHCHR takes note of the Government’s efforts and challenges, the information available raises serious concerns as to the lack of free, prior, and informed consent, which is a critical safeguard for all collective rights of indigenous peoples."
19/ @UNHumanRights concludes with:
