Resources

Manual for Training Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Miners

UNIDO 2006 English

This manual provides training strategies for people teaching artisanal miners and their families both health-related and technical information and skills. This includes peer-educators, technical experts with little or no teaching experience, as well as those accustomed to teaching in academic settings.

Minamata Convention on Mercury

United Nations Environment Program English

World Health Organization: Health Impacts of Mercury

World Health Organization English

 This site contains multiple information documents on the dangerous effects of mercury such as: health impacts, tools for actions, guidance documents, fact sheet and other educational materials.

Lead poisoning reduced with safer mining practices

OK International 2019 English

 A pilot program to introduce safer mining practices in Nigerian gold mining communities has reduced blood lead levels by 32%, according to a study published today. This is the first study to report on a successful intervention to reduce lead exposures among artisanal miners in communities were hundreds of children have died from lead poisoning from the high levels of lead present in the gold ore.

Document D'Orientacion: Élaboration d’un plan d’action national pour réduire et, si possible, éliminer l’utilisation du mercure pour l’extraction artisanale et à petite échelle de l’or

United Nations Environment Program Global Mercury Partnership 2017 French

Le présent document développe le document d’orientation du PNUE consacré à l’élaboration d’un plan stratégique national pour la réduction de l’usage du mercure dans l’extraction artisanale et à petite échelle de l’or (PNUE 2001), et a pour objet de traduire les avancées réalisées en ce qui concerne la compréhension du secteur. Bien que ce document ne soit pas juridiquement contraignant et ne saurait constituer une extension ou une nouvelle interprétation de la Convention de Minamata, il a pour objet de guider les pays dans l’élaboration de PAN conformes aux prescriptions de la Convention et de fournir des informations techniques, juridiques et de politique générale se rapportant à des questions concernant le secteur de l’extraction artisanale et à petite échelle de l’or, qui pourraient aider à l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre des PAN.

Global mercury supply, trade and demand

UN Environment 2017 English

A good understanding of mercury supply, trade and demand is critical to effective implementation of the Convention. This report provides detailed and timely information on where mercury comes from, how it moves in commerce, and how it is used in products and industrial processes. 

Guidance Document: Developing a National Action Plan to Reduce and Where Feasible, Eliminate Mercury Use in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

United Nations Environment Program Global Mercury Partnership 2017 Chinese

This document represents an expansion of the UNEP Guidance Document: Developing a National Strategic Plan to Reduce Mercury Use in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (UNEP 2011), and is intended to reflect advances in understanding of the ASGM sector. Although this guidance document is not legally binding and is not to be construed as a further elaboration or official interpretation of the Minamata Convention, it is intended to provide guidance to countries in formulating NAPs that are consistent with the requirements of the Minamata Convention, and provide technical, legal and policy information on issues related to ASGM

Guidance Document: Developing a National Action Plan to Reduce and Where Feasible, Eliminate Mercury Use in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

United Nations Environment Program Global Mercury Partnership 2017 Arabic

This document represents an expansion of the UNEP Guidance Document: Developing a National Strategic Plan to Reduce Mercury Use in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (UNEP 2011), and is intended to reflect advances in understanding of the ASGM sector. Although this guidance document is not legally binding and is not to be construed as a further elaboration or official interpretation of the Minamata Convention, it is intended to provide guidance to countries in formulating NAPs that are consistent with the requirements of the Minamata Convention, and provide technical, legal and policy information on issues related to ASGM.

Guidance Document: Developing a National Action Plan to Reduce and Where Feasible, Eliminate Mercury Use in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining

United Nations Environment Program Global Mercury Partnership 2017 Russian

This document represents an expansion of the UNEP Guidance Document: Developing a National Strategic Plan to Reduce Mercury Use in Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (UNEP 2011), and is intended to reflect advances in understanding of the ASGM sector. Although this guidance document is not legally binding and is not to be construed as a further elaboration or official interpretation of the Minamata Convention, it is intended to provide guidance to countries in formulating NAPs that are consistent with the requirements of the Minamata Convention, and provide technical, legal and policy information on issues related to ASGM.

Precious Metal, Cheap Labor: Child Labor and Corporate Responsibility in Ghana's Artisanal Gold Mine

Human Rights Watch 2015 English

This report documents the use of child labor in artisanal and small-scale mines in Ghana’s Western, Central, and
Ashanti Regions, focusing on unlicensed sites, which constitute the vast majority of mines. It also analyzes the measures that some gold traders and refiners take to avoid supporting child labor by buying gold mined with child labor.