On 14 December, the Mongolian Employers’ Federation (MONEF) and the Confederation of Mongolian Trade Unions (CMTU), with assistance from EPRC, held a one-day workshop on Mining Grievances and Conflict Resolution. The workshop aimed to assist participants in identifying grievances, risks and costs as well as potential mechanisms for conflict resolution.
Workshop facilitators included CMTU President, Mr. Ganbaatar S., MONEF President, Mr. Ganbaatar Kh. and EPRC Senior Mining Sector Advisor, Rena Guenduez. Topics covered during the workshop included: an introduction to conflict and grievances in the mining sector, their cost, a case study of mining conflict in Peru, and a discussion of Mongolia’s options to shape its future.
Participants included individuals from industry, civil society, and government. Industry representatives from Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Ltd., Boroo Gold LLC, and Energy Resources LLC actively participated in workshop discussions about grievances they face. Industry representatives, members of civil society organizations such as MONEF, CMTU, and the Mongolian National Mining Association (MNMA) collectively discussed the possible structure of a mining conflict and grievance resolution mechanism for Mongolia based on international examples of such mechanisms from Germany, Peru, Canada, and the US.
As mining investment increases, issues of land use, environment, community benefits, distribution of mining revenues between central, local governments, communities, and individuals, and political promises will become contentious. Mongolia has an opportunity to apply lessons learned from other countries to manage these issues through appropriate structures and processes to handle mining grievances and conflict resolution.
The workshop and ensuing discussion provided a forum and initial step towards encouraging dialogue with key stakeholders on such potential mechanisms and strategies for the creation of national and local level grievance and conflict resolution mechanisms.
Workshop facilitators included CMTU President, Mr. Ganbaatar S., MONEF President, Mr. Ganbaatar Kh. and EPRC Senior Mining Sector Advisor, Rena Guenduez. Topics covered during the workshop included: an introduction to conflict and grievances in the mining sector, their cost, a case study of mining conflict in Peru, and a discussion of Mongolia’s options to shape its future. Participants included individuals from industry, civil society, and government. Industry representatives from Ivanhoe Mines Mongolia Ltd., Boroo Gold LLC, and Energy Resources LLC actively participated in workshop discussions about grievances they face. Industry representatives, members of civil society organizations such as MONEF, CMTU, and the Mongolian National Mining Association (MNMA) collectively discussed the possible structure of a mining conflict and grievance resolution mechanism for Mongolia based on international examples of such mechanisms from Germany, Peru, Canada, and the US.
As mining investment increases, issues of land use, environment, community benefits, distribution of mining revenues between central, local governments, communities, and individuals, and political promises will become contentious. Mongolia has an opportunity to apply lessons learned from other countries to manage these issues through appropriate structures and processes to handle mining grievances and conflict resolution.
The workshop and ensuing discussion provided a forum and initial step towards encouraging dialogue with key stakeholders on such potential mechanisms and strategies for the creation of national and local level grievance and conflict resolution mechanisms.