The All-Party Parliamentary Human Rights Group (PHRG) organised this meeting in conjunction with the Latin American Mining Monitoring Programme (LAMMP UK). We would like to thank Mark Durkan MP for chairing this meeting.

The speakers were:

• Esperanza Salazar, Coordinator of Environmental Protection Colima-based NGO – Bios Iguana. (ES)
• Jane Lingbawan Yap-eo, Executive Director of the Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera. (JL)
• Glevys Rondon, Projects Director of the Latin American Mining Monitoring Programme (LAMMP, UK). (GR)

The main points raised by the speakers were:

• The main problem with the way mining companies in Mexico operate is the lack of consultation with communities. Most people only become aware of the mining project when the work begins. (ES)
• Indigenous communities who organise against the mining operations are met with force by the Mexican Government. (ES)
• Esperanza has been forced to leave the area and is unable to return, as a result of her work supporting indigenous communities. (ES)
• Non-recognition of rights to ancestral lands is the main problem for indigenous people in the Philippines. (JL)
• Jane has been personally threatened by the military, by phone and text message, for her work defending indigenous people’s rights against mining. (JL)
• Attracting foreign investment in mining has been the priority of the Philippine Government, without regard for human rights. This is evidenced by the displacement, intimidation and murder of those who resist. (JL)
• As the UK Government is now reviewing its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, this is an important time to highlight current problems for communities who are negatively affected by mining around the world.
• The UK Government should raise concerns about the safety of women human rights defenders with the relevant embassies. (GR).

At this week’s LAAMP UK Conference; ‘Beyond Good Business: Advocating for Women‘s Rights in the Context of Natural Resource Extraction and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights’, the criminalisation of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) was explored in more depth.

• In particular, it was highlighted that WHRDs have different experiences to male HRDs. Due to entrenched social norms, women face greater risk of sexual violence, and attacks against WHRDs often focus on their reputation and/or sexuality as non-conforming with gender stereotypes.
• One of the biggest problems facing women human rights defenders is in seeking remedies There is a lack of access to legal mechanisms for affected communities and women’s realities often do not fit into current legal frameworks.
• One of the proposed speakers for the conference, a human rights defender from Zimbabwe, was refused a UK visa.

The PHRG will continue work with relevant interlocutors to highlight issues facing WHRDs who are raising concerns about natural resource extraction projects around the world.