High Incidence of Sexual Violence in Mining Communities Highlighted by WIMIN

The recent release of a report by Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMIN) has brought to light a concerning statistic – 23.1% of women in mining communities are experiencing sexual violence, a figure significantly higher than the 18.7% in non-mining communities. This revelation was made by the president of WIMIN, Engr. Janet Adeyemi, during a two-day sensitization workshop in Lafia, Nasarawa state.

Engr. Janet Adeyemi underscored the challenges faced by women in the male-dominated mining industry, emphasizing that their well-being is being compromised by the very industry they depend on for income and opportunities. She expressed deep concern over the high incidence of sexual violence experienced by women in mining communities, emphasizing the urgent need for collaborative efforts to address this critical issue.

WIMIN is fully dedicated to creating an open and safe mining environment in Nigeria for all women, including professionals and artisans pursuing careers in the sector. Engr. Janet Adeyemi stressed that WIMIN remains steadfast in its commitment to eradicating gender-based violence in the Nigerian mining sector.

In addition to sexual violence, she highlighted other challenges faced by women in mining, such as lack of education and training, limited representation, displacement, loss of livelihoods, and emotional trauma. She emphasized the importance of implementing measures to prevent gender violence and child abuse in the mining sector, as well as the need for greater participation of women and the removal of obstacles affecting their operation in the industry.

During the workshop, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Nasarawa state, Barrister Labaran Magaji, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to support the advocacy and fight against all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV). The state’s coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Nduka Ezenwugao, also expressed readiness to partner with WIMIN in the promotion and protection of women engaged in mining activities in the state.

The worrying statistics highlighted by WIMIN underscore the pressing need for concerted efforts to address the prevalent issue of sexual violence in mining communities. The commitment of both WIMIN and the government authorities to combat this issue is a positive step towards fostering a safe and inclusive environment for women in the Nigerian mining sector.