Dispute over resources, the role of State & Recommendations
Completion requirements
Post-colonial countries that are resource-rich are often confronted with a “resource curse”, though not exclusively. This means that these countries are highly exposed to corruption, lack of good governance, and a lack of diversification of the economy. This often results in lax environmental regulations and tax evasion which impacts the provision of public services – essential for women’s health, education and the reduction of unpaid care work. Mining carried out by licensed companies may coexist with a large informal mining sector where safety and labour standards tend to be even lower. Struggles over access to resources are connected with the recurrent appropriation of new spaces on the one and dispossession of – often indigenous – land on the other hand.
Multifaceted conflicts frequently appear between extractive companies, state agencies, non-governmental organisations, environmental-social movements, and heterogeneous groups of local people. These conflicts often concern the need to challenge the authority to make decisions over how environments are to be used, how the benefits and burdens of extraction are to be distributed, and who bears responsibility for the resulting harms. Asymmetric power relations provide significant opportunities for companies to trade off amongst local leaders. Furthermore, extractivism often leads to militarisation and securitisation at extraction sites and in the regions. Local protests against labour exploitation, environmental damage and health implications are often heavily repressed.
1. Reccomendations
- Implement CEDAW Article 14 in domestic and international (trade) policies on the right of women living in rural areas to participate in the elaboration and implementation of development planning at all levels and enjoy adequate living conditions, particularly concerning housing, sanitation, electricity and water supply, among others.
- Implement ILO Convention 169 domestic and international (trade) policies on indigenous peoples´ rights, an international legal instrument that includes the right to be consulted on issues affecting their lands, territories and resources.
- Governments need to mainstream the rights of women, children, LGBTI people, people with disabilities, minorities, indigenous peoples and other groups that face intersectional discrimination in national and international climate change strategies and extractivism policies. The rights of people cannot be compromised for the rights of companies to make a profit.