Standard setting
Standard setting is one of ARM's 3 strategic areas of work. ARM focuses on fair trade standards which provide a market niche for small scale producers all over the world. ARM develops standards following the ISEAL Code of Good Practice for standard setting.
ARM's Standard Setting philosophy is based on the Vision of Quirama for ASM (Artisanal and Small-scale Mining) and its principles. At a later stage ARM may chose to develop standards for other mineral products.
ASM VISION OF QUIRAMA
ARM’s vision for Responsible Artisanal and Small-scale Mining:
“ASM is a formalised, organised and profitable activity that is technologically efficient, socially and environmentally responsible; the sector's development takes place within a framework of good governance, legality, participation and respect for diversity; it seeks to make an increasing contribution to improved workplace conditions, local development, poverty reduction and social peace within our countries, stimulated by growing consumer demand for sustainable minerals and ethical jewellery.”
PRINCIPLES
The Millennium Development Goals and Declaration on Sustainable Development: We declare our commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and the Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and to the following specific principles for Responsible Artisanal and Small-scale Mining:
- Legality: Responsible Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) complies with the national legal frameworks. Where national legislation does not recognize the legal rights of community-based artisanal and small-scale miners, despite their legitimate efforts towards legalization, we will, as far as possible, work with organized ASM and national governments, to lobby for improved public policies for responsible ASM organizations interested in committing to the principles. The STANDARD will not support organizations involved with armed conflict in any way, including financing conflict or the use of revenue to engage in activities that facilitate the purchasing of arms.
- Human Rights: Responsible ASM is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and on UN declarations regarding the cultural, social and economic rights of individuals. The rights of artisanal and small-scale miners must be respected, and their violation, denounced. Responsible community based artisanal and small-scale miners organizations respect the human rights, as well as the social, economic, cultural, and labour rights of every person involved and of the local community, as fundamental principles. The rights of women, disadvantaged groups and individuals, including migrant workers, are specifically included.
- Decent Work: Responsible ASM is decent work in line with the ILO Conventions. Work in Responsible Artisanal and Small-scale Mining is performed in conditions of freedom, equality, safety, and human dignity, free from child labour, allowing the access of small-scale minerals producers, workers and their families to a decent standard of living.
- Quality of Life and Sustainable Human Development for ASM communities: Responsible ASM contributes to the sustainable human development of their communities. Responsible Artisanal and Small-scale Mining improves the quality of life of men and women miners, their families, and the community that hosts ASM endeavours, respecting the conceptions and priorities of each community.
- Environmental Stewardship: Responsible ASM actively encourages better preventive and restorative environmental practices and the application of responsible methods of production. Responsible miners abide by the environmental laws in their countries, contribute to environmental protection, human health and ecological restoration in its operations and communities, and mitigate negative impacts.· Respecting protected areas, avoiding damaging important biodiversity, minimizing the ecological footprint of mining, and, where possible restoring or replacing biodiversity, and where this is not possible, compensating for that residual loss, are principles for environmental protection.
- Gender Equality: Women’s work is properly valued and rewarded. In the organizations and initiatives of responsible ASM, equality should exist among men and women in all rights, including access to resources, the use of earnings, and participation and impact on decision-making processes. Women are always paid for their contribution to the production process and are empowered in their organizations. The miners’ organization ensures equal pay for equal labour regardless of the labourer’s gender. In organizations, processes and activities where there is marginalisation of women, measures and actions shall be taken in order to improve equality.
- Multicultural Nature: Artisanal and Small-scale Mining often develops in contexts of ethnic and cultural diversity. Where indigenous peoples or other ethnic groups are owners of the territory and are different from the miners themselves, responsible ASM organizations will undertake consultations based on the spirit of ILO Convention 169, with respect for local cultural practices in order to reach agreements with the local traditional authority and community, with regards to the impacts and benefits of mining operations and trading in that indigenous or ethnic territory.
- Armed Conflicts: The standard strengthens the rights and activities of artisanal and small-scale miners who work under the difficult and dangerous conditions of internal armed conflicts. In order to improve the working and living conditions of small-scale miners, their families and communities in conflict zones, the STANDARD is based on the spirit of International Humanitarian Law which tries to widen the range of activities of civilians in the situation of an internal armed conflict, and to delimitate the action of the armed parties. Community based Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Organizations strengthen the possibilities of small-scale miners as a vulnerable social group, so that they cannot be extorted or forced to collaboration by armed groups or armed individuals (e.g. financial contributions, delivering of information etc.).
