IWD 2023: WIAMO joins the World to celebrate achievements in gender equality promotion

By Elias Hakizimana.

The “Rwanda Women In/And Mining Organization” (WIAMO), a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), promoting gender equality and social inclusion in the Rwanda’s mining sector has joined the world to celebrate the International Women’s Day 2023, commending positive journey in promoting gender equality across different sectors including mining.

The event took place at GAMICO Mining Company Ltd, Bashyamba concession, located in Kigali City, Nyarugenge District, Kigali Sector, Ruliba Cell. Currently, the concession counts 1,367 employees who include 180 women (13.1%).

The NGO fights for the women’s effective integration in the mining workforce and entrepreneurship, and the protection of rights for women that have already joined the mining [Women “In”Mining] and for the mitigation of mining negative effects on women in communities surrounding mining concessions [Women “And” Mining], and other vulnerable groups, mainly children (social inclusion).

Since its creation in 2014, WIAMO has run different projects with various interventions, including advocacy before different organs on the employability and entrepreneurship of women in mining, women’s rights awareness raising, researches to learn about barriers and opportunities associated with women in mining and hence inspire competent organs to take informed decisions.

In his opening remarks, Mr Evode IMENA, the representative of GAMICO’s senior management, commended the Government’s efforts to avail an enabling environment for women to join the labour force, including mining, a blue-colour job which historically was thought to be suitable for only men.

He congratulated WIAMO for all the efforts made to encourage women to join the sector and to advocate for them, for mining companies and cooperatives to integrate women in the mining workforce.

He also took the opportunity to thank women who work with GAMICO for their contribution to the company’s successfulness.

Mrs Aline Providence NKUNDIBIZA, the Chairperson of WIAMO, spoke about the historical background of the International Women’s Day and the participation of women in mining as both employees and entrepreneurs.

She reminded about the legal environment which was not allowing women to leave their households, to venture into economic activities. In 100 years ago, women fought for their different rights, starting from civil and political rights, including rights to electing and being elected, freedom of speech and others, up to cultural and socio-economic rights which include the right to employment.

She reiterated on how the mining sector is among the sectors which kept being male-dominated until to date, whereas in some countries, Rwanda included, mining generates much income to the country, topping up the leading sectors, and more specifically, seconding the tourism sector to generate foreign currency, for the case of Rwanda.

WIAMO members during elections of a new committee 

Mrs Aline therefore emphasized that the more women join the mining sector, the more they directly benefit from income generated by mining and hence enjoy their economic rights at the same level as men.

Speaking about the 2023 IWD’s theme on innovation and technology, Mrs Aline thanked mining companies which include GAMICO Mining Company for the steps that are being made in mechanizing their concessions, shifting from old artisanal mining methods which were more energetic and therefore were limiting women to join core mining departments.

“Even though more steps are needed in order to use high-end and modern technologies which would be more women-friendly, at least today, many companies are using electrical jack hammers to dig the ore, mine carts for the transportation of the ore from tunnels or from mining places to processing areas, electrical crashers, jigs and separators for minerals processing, and other means, which attract the increment of women’s participation in mining.” Mrs Aline said.

Other tools for women’s conducive environment include having accessible mine tunnels, change rooms and wash rooms specific to women, Early Child Development centres (ECDs) for female miners’ children care, women’s heath room and mechanisms for the protection of women against sexual and gender-based violence (GBV).

Within this context, on this IWD, in partnership with GAMICO Mining Company, WIAMO introduced a Women’s Health Room (icyumbacy’umugore) at Bashyamba site made of beds and health facilities for women in their period: female workers will have pads and tablets, free of charge, have a shower and rest for a while, and then revert back to their works, with all their peace of mind.

WIAMO promised to work closely with the management of GAMICO to introduce an ECD for workers with children to work safely when their children are also being catered for. This will be a solution to work abandonment due to pregnancies, breastfeeding and similar situations, as a well as a solution to children stunting issues.

A women’s committee at GAMICO was elected by fellow female workers, headed by Mrs Aline VUMIRIYA, to work closely with WIAMO and GAMICO in managing the Women’s Health Room, channelling challenges that might be faced by women to GAMICO, WIAMO and other competent organs, educating fellow female workers and joining efforts to internally promote other gender equality endeavours.

The event was closed by a convivial party, where participants celebrated achievements associated with the IWD and the integration of women in GAMICO’s workforce and their remarkable role played in the company’s production. Other members of WIAMO present at the event included Mrs Janvière UWAMARIYA, Miss Aurore UMUHOZA and Me/Atty. Bernard NSANZIMANA.

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