Major Reduction in Child Labor Achieved in North Kivu Mining Sites
Civil society in Lubero territory, North Kivu province, has expressed satisfaction with the significant reduction in the number of children working in mining sites.
Mbule Mandatex, a representative of this civic group, reported that numerous mining operators have been made aware of the strict ban on child labor in mining activities.
“We have benefited from the popularization of the mining code, which formally prohibits the presence of children in mining sites.
All cooperatives and mining managers are now aware of this, resulting in the rarity of children and pregnant women on these sites,” Mandatex stated.
According to Mandatex, NGOs dedicated to protecting children’s and human rights have effectively educated mining site managers about the legal and ethical implications of child labor. He emphasized that past practices were largely due to the ignorance of mining operators.
“Mining operators have always welcomed the efforts of these NGOs to eliminate child labor in mines. This initiative has been successful, as children are becoming increasingly rare on mining sites,” Mandatex noted.
Despite these improvements, Mandatex urged mining operators to completely avoid employing children, as it constitutes a violation of their rights.
Historically, children were commonly found working in mining sites in Lubero territory, often those who had left armed groups.
