The Women In Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN), in partnership with the Ford Foundation, has called on the Nasarawa State Government to take immediate action against the rampant sexual harassment and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) faced by female miners across the state.
At the launch of a three-day training programme for Service Providers on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Lafia on Monday, WIMIN President Janet Adeyemi, represented by Vice President Regina Edzuwah, highlighted the severe and growing issues affecting women in the mining sector. Adeyemi expressed deep concerns over the frequent abuse of female miners and the neglect of their rights despite ongoing awareness campaigns.
“Women in mining sites and host communities in Nigeria face constant abuse, misuse, over-labour, underpayment, and even rape by male labourers and mining company staff,” Adeyemi said. She also condemned the illegal employment of children in mining operations, where their wages are exploited by adults, denying them an education and a chance at a better future.
The training programme, titled Eliminating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Mining Host Communities, is designed to address these critical issues. It will cover essential topics such as understanding Sexual GBV, cultural and social norms influencing GBV, root causes and risk factors, legal frameworks, survivor-centred approaches, and trauma-informed care.
Adeyemi revealed that over 90% of WIMIN members had experienced sexual harassment from male counterparts over the past year. The training aims to build the capacity of service providers, including healthcare professionals, law enforcement officers, social workers, and community leaders, to offer effective support to GBV survivors and foster a unified community response.
Justina Allu, Director of the Public Defender at the Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice, condemned the prevalent issues of sexual harassment and GBV, noting that her office had managed over 50 cases in the past six months. She praised WIMIN for their initiative in organising the training programme.
Aisha Ibrahim, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, represented by the Director of the Women Affairs Department, Matayashi Aselema, affirmed the state government’s dedication to addressing these critical issues affecting women.
Participant Patience Sampson expressed gratitude for the training opportunity and vowed to apply the knowledge gained to combat sexual harassment and GBV effectively.
