Webinar Series: Children’s Rights and Business - "Mining and the Extractive Industry in Africa: Implications for Children’s Rights" [16 October 2025]

Africa holds a substantial share of the world’s natural resources and critical minerals. It is increasingly being positioned as a key player in the global minerals supply chain. With rising global demand for critical minerals and metals needed to support green technologies and manufacturing, the extractive industry plays a major role in supporting the global and African economies. However, the economic benefits of the mining industry are tainted by its social and environmental impacts on communities, including children, across the continent. These risks are present at the various phases of a mining activity, including at the planning, exploration, construction, and operational phases, which can span for decades – and generations. Without strict compliance to ‘Environmental Impact Assessment’(EIA) and ‘Child Rights Impact Assessment’ (CRIA), children across multiple generations can be affected throughout the lifespan of mining operations. The impacts of mining activities on children are wide ranging and have serious implications for children’s rights recognised in international and regional standards, including the right to life, survival and development, health, and education, among others. Child labour, most prevalent in artisanal and small-scale mines (ASM), remains a challenge in the mining sector, with more than 1 million children engaged in child labour in mines globally. Depending on the nature, scale and gravity of mining activities and their proximity to local communities, children may be exposed to additional risks beyond child labour, such as environmental pollution and development-induced displacement. Mining activity also increases the risk of conflict by aggravating existing tensions around access to natural resources and economic opportunities. This not only compromises children’s overall wellbeing, development, and access to basic services but also significantly increases their vulnerability to recruitment as child soldiers. Sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism is another challenge associated with the mining sector, particularly in foreign-led mining operations.

This webinar is the second in the webinar series on ‘Children’s Rights and Business in Africa’. Building on the foundation of the first that highlighted the challenges and opportunities under this broad theme, this webinar will focus on examining the impacts of mining operations on children in Africa, and how these should be dealt with.

Panellists: 

• Mary Chavula, Global Senior Manager – Child Rights & Child Participation, Save the Children International
• Rosemary Mwanza, Human Rights and the Environment Lead, Lex-BHRE (Legal Centre for Business, Human Rights and the Environment)
• Mr Obert Bore, Programme Manager, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organization

Moderator: Dr. Meseret Ande - Dullah Omar Institute, UWC

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Following registration, participants will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the webinar.

We acknowledge the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) funding the African Children's Charter Project (ACCP), for their generous support in making this webinar possible.