Ulaanbaatar
The “Forum-Asia” Recommends to Establish More Detailed and Well-Rounded Criteria for Licenses on Mining
Society
Ulaanbaatar, April 11, 2023 /MONTSAME/. The
“Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development” (FORUM-ASIA) conducted fact-finding
research in October 2022 and held its report launch on “From Dreams to Dust:
Examining the Impact of Mining on Herder Communities in Mongolia” on April 10,
2023.
The
research team collected testimonies and data from a wide range of stakeholders
in Dalanjargalan, Ulaanbadrakh, and Khatanbulag soums of Dornogobi aimag. They
shed light on the harmful and sometimes fatal impact of mining operations on
the communities’ rights, including their health, livelihoods, and environment.
Based
on the findings of the research, the “Forum-Asia” has developed recommendations
for each stakeholder at the local, national, and international levels,
including government, mining companies, human rights defenders, media, etc. At
a national level, one of the recommendations was to establish more detailed and
well-rounded criteria for granting and renewing licenses on exploration and
extraction, with clear guidelines for respecting and protecting the community’s
right to a healthy, safe, and clean environment.
Head
of the Centre for Human Rights and Development, which participated in this
research as a partner, G. Urantsooj encouraged the mining companies to fully
comply with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and all
relevant national laws and regulations on mining, human rights, and
environmental protection at the report launch. Moreover, she said that the
companies must rehabilitate and restore the land once operations are completed,
ensuring minimal long-term impact on the environment and surrounding
communities.
The
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA) is a network of 85
member organizations across 23 countries, mainly in Asia. Founded in 1991,
FORUM-ASIA works to strengthen movements for human rights and sustainable
development through research, advocacy, capacity development, and solidarity
actions in Asia and beyond. It has consultative status with the United Nations
Economic and Social Council, and a consultative relationship with the ASEAN
Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.
