Report from the IGF to the IPM
Mr. Chairman, thank you for giving me the opportunity to report on the
outcomes of the last Annual General Meeting of the Intergovernmental
Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development or IGF.
I speak today in my role as Chair of the IGF.
The IGF is an outcome of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable
Development in Johannesburg. It is a United Nations recognized voluntary
partnership. The IGF is a global policy forum with the purpose of enhancing
the contribution of mining to sustainable development through the
promotion of good governance and the socially responsible management of
the mining sector. It now has forty-three member countries, most of which
are developing countries.
Over a period of five years, the members of the Forum conducted extensive
workshops on all the main issues related to mining, be they social,
environmental or economic. These workshops were conducted by senior
officials from mines ministries, experts from academia and industry, civil
society organisations, multilateral organizations such as the World Bank,
UNCTAD, UNEP, and other mining related organisations such as EITI,
CASM, etc.
A major survey of members was conducted in 2009 to confirm their
understanding and views on these issues, many of which were raised in the
course of CSD-18. This led to the development of a Mining Policy
Framework (MPF) that we are pleased to bring to CSD-19 as a well
researched, integrated and sustainable development focussed way forward
for mining.
The IGF comes to CSD-19 with the objective to have the MPF recognized as
the base line or reference on mining good governance globally. It represents
as well a roadmap towards sustainability, long term economic development
and more effective strategies towards poverty reduction. The MPF
demonstrates that mines ministries have the knowledge, experience and
interests to allow them to play a leading role on policy development as it
relates to mining.
The MPF has a broad scope. It covers social issues such as education, health,
safety, employment, community development, human rights, security,
economic issues such as taxes, royalties, generation of related businesses,
equitable distribution of benefits, capacity requirements, accountability,
transparency, environmental issues such as those related to water, land air,
wastes, biodiversity, mine inspection, emergency preparedness, mine closure
and financial surety, orphaned and abandoned mines, artisanal and small
scale mining issues such as integration and formalisation, environment,
safety and health, women and children, education, etc. And those examples
are not exhaustive.
The MPF can be found on the IGF web site. I have also brought copies for
distribution.
The MPF represents a basis for a broader discussion towards implementing
good governance in mining. It is at present the most extensive document of
its kind that reflects the views of a majority of developing countries with an
interest in mining.
One of the early objectives of the IGF was to promote more global support
for capacity building. We noted with satisfaction growing support for a
renewed UN interest in mining in the course of CSD-18. We believe that
mines ministries, through the IGF and as demonstrated by its MPF, are
ideally placed to play a key global advisory role on the full spectrum of
mining related issues.
The IGF has long thought about a greater UN role in mining and has views
of the parameters on which it should be based to best reflect the views and
interests of IGF members. It should:
· Take a sustainable development approach;
· Focus on enhancing capacity for good governance of the mining
sector; particularly in developing countries;
· Take a systemic and integrated approach to mining and related good
governance,
· Focus on working with the national ministries responsible for mining
since they have the broadest mining related mandate and
understanding of the issues (this does not preclude working with other
relevant ministries);
· Focus primarily on the management of the mineral resource
development, from exploration to mine closure. This choice reflected
the needs and priorities of most developing countries. It was also done
to maintain a narrower focus to support more effective action. It also
reflected the fact that issues related to the later stages metal use issues
are already dealt with in other existing global activities on sustainable
production consumption or on chemicals while mining related good
governance is not. Finally, it recognized that the ministries dealing
with the earlier stages of the life cycle are not the same as those
dealing with the last stages, e.g. mining versus environment, industry.
The MPF also followed this focussed approach.
· Take an inclusive approach that can bring to the table all other
relevant stakeholders such as industry, civil society, academics and
others stakeholders;
· Avoid duplication with existing activities;
· Promote cooperation and integration with the work of other mining
related agencies such as EITI, CASM, ICMM, UNECA, CEPAL, etc.
· Be undertaken by a UN agency with knowledge and record on mining
sector and related good governance issues,
Having examined the mandates and areas of work of UN agencies, the IGF
has concluded that UNCTAD best fits the above profile. I have therefore
written to UNCTAD?s Secretary General to express that view and seek their
support.
The IGF is now working on its next five year program. We are looking
forward to the outcomes of CSD-19 to guide us on in our work and we
would welcome the opportunity to act as the consultative body to advance
the outcomes of CSD-19 as they relate to mining.
I wish to thank all delegates for their attention.
