Coalition for Fair Mining Practices

Coalition for Fair Mining Practices
Name	Coalition for Fair Mining Practices
Formation	2018
Type	Nonprofit coalition
Headquarters	Geneva, Switzerland
Region served	Global

Coalition for Fair Mining Practices is a transnational advocacy coalition that advocates for ethical standards, regulatory reform, and stakeholder accountability in extractive industries. The coalition brings together NGOs, trade unions, indigenous organizations, philanthropic foundations, and corporate social responsibility units to influence policy, certification, and investment decisions related to mining. Its work intersects with international law, human rights, environmental protection, and sustainable development frameworks.

Overview

The Coalition engages with institutions such as the United Nations agencies, the World Bank Group, the International Labour Organization, the European Union, and the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development to promote reforms in mining governance. It collaborates with civil society networks like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Greenpeace, and OXFAM and interacts with standard‑setting bodies such as the International Organization for Standardization and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (as a model for multi‑stakeholder governance). The Coalition frames its advocacy within instruments including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the Paris Agreement, and commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals.

History and Formation

Founded in 2018 after a series of high‑profile incidents involving artisanal and industrial mines, the Coalition emerged from dialogues among actors present at forums like the World Economic Forum and the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights. Early meetings included representatives from Amnesty International, Global Witness, International Trade Union Confederation, and philanthropic actors such as the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundations. The formation was catalyzed by reports from investigative outlets including The Guardian and Al Jazeera documenting human rights abuses and environmental damage in contexts like the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Peru, and Indonesia.

Mission and Objectives

The Coalition's stated mission aligns with frameworks endorsed at summits such as the Rio Earth Summit and declarations adopted in venues like the Human Rights Council. Objectives include promoting transparency through mechanisms akin to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, advancing responsible sourcing similar to the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict‑Affected and High‑Risk Areas, and strengthening legal remedies in courts influenced by precedents from cases litigated in jurisdictions like the European Court of Human Rights and national systems in Canada and the United States. It seeks to integrate indigenous rights referenced in instruments like the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and to influence investment standards upheld by institutions such as the International Finance Corporation.

Governance and Membership

The Coalition's governance model mirrors multi‑stakeholder boards found in organizations like the Forest Stewardship Council and the Roundtable on Responsible Soy. Its steering committee has seats allocated to representatives from trade unions (e.g., International Trade Union Confederation), indigenous coalitions (e.g., Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin), major NGOs (e.g., Greenpeace), academic centers (e.g., Columbia University's Earth Institute), and corporate responsibility divisions from multinational companies listed on exchanges such as the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Membership includes civil society groups active in regions such as Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Sub‑Saharan Africa, as well as mining companies from countries like Australia, Chile, and South Africa that commit to voluntary codes of conduct.

Key Initiatives and Campaigns

Initiatives include advocacy for mandatory disclosure regimes modeled on the Dodd‑Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act's section on conflict minerals, campaigning for remediation funds resembling precedents set by corporate settlements in cases adjudicated in New York and London, and pilot programmes for community benefit agreements inspired by practices in Canada's resource sectors. Campaigns have targeted commodity supply chains for metals like cobalt, copper, and lithium, with field projects in provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Atacama Desert, and the Andes Mountains. The Coalition runs monitoring projects that draw upon methodologies used by the Environmental Protection Agency and reporting frameworks such as the Global Reporting Initiative and the Carbon Disclosure Project.

Partnerships and Collaborations

The Coalition maintains partnerships with intergovernmental actors including the United Nations Development Programme and the European Commission's Directorate‑General for Environment, with financial bodies like the World Bank Group and regional development banks such as the Asian Development Bank and the African Development Bank. It collaborates with research institutes such as Chatham House, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Stockholm Environment Institute, and university research centres at University of Oxford and Harvard University. The Coalition also engages certification schemes and industry associations like the International Council on Mining and Metals and commodity-focused groups such as the Cobalt Institute.

Impact and Criticisms

The Coalition claims measurable outcomes including policy shifts in jurisdictions influenced by advocacy in capitals like Brussels, Washington, D.C., and Pretoria, adoption of improved due diligence policies by firms listed on exchanges such as the Toronto Stock Exchange, and enhanced community grievance mechanisms modeled on guidance from the International Finance Corporation. Critics, including some industry groups and scholars associated with institutions like Heritage Foundation and think tanks such as the Americas Society/Council of the Americas, argue that voluntary standards can impose compliance costs and that engagement may favor larger multinational actors over small‑scale miners in places like Bolivia and Madagascar. Other critiques have been voiced in outlets like The Financial Times and academic journals cited by researchers at London School of Economics and University of Cape Town.

Category:Non-governmental organizations