ASM presently provides employment for some 13 million people. According to the ILO, between 80 and 100 million people depend on ASM as part of their diversified livelihood strategy.

Rising prices for precious metals and gemstones have led to an increase in artisanal and small-scale mining activity worldwide.

ASM activities tend to take place in fragile ecosystems notable for their cultural and biological diversity. Material poverty in ASM regions is aggravated by environmental impacts directly affecting  ecosystem and human health.

ASM is a potentially profitable, productive and safe activity; it can support sustainable livelihoods and serve as a source of decent, environmentally acceptable, and child-labour free employment.  The impact of local purchasing can enable ASM to act as a catalyst of sustainable economic and social development at local level.

Improving the social and environmental performance of ASM would have a positive impact on the lives of many of the poorest families in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia, whereas ignoring it will only serve to postpone the problem and aggravate poverty, illness, inequity and environmental degradation in many regions of the world.