Towards Gender-Responsive Implementation of Extractive Industries Projects
Publisher: The Danish Institute for Human Rights
Author(s): Nora Götzmann, Linnea Kristiansson, and Julia Hillenbrand
Date: 2019
Topics: Conflict Causes, Extractive Resources, Gender, Land
Women and men are impacted differently by extractive industries projects. Despite this, extractive industries companies frequently take a gender-neutral approach to human rights due diligence, be this in community relations, land acquisition and resettlement, security, local content, grievance resolution, strategic social investment, or other areas. As a consequence, women are often marginalised in stakeholder engagement, and their rights are insufficiently considered in project planning and implementation. It also means that extractive industries companies miss out on a comprehensive understanding of the social context, their impacts on workers and communities, and how these can best be addressed. The purpose of this report is to contribute to learning on key challenges, as well as good practice opportunities for practitioners working in and with the extractive industries, on how a gender-responsive approach can be embedded in project planning and implementation. In particular, the report explores how strengthened engagement with women can act as a key enabler for human rights due diligence. While recognising the diversity of women and men, including the role of intersectionality, this report focuses on avoiding and addressing adverse impacts by extractive industries projects on women and girls.