Evasion of Children in Ivory Coast Artisanal Mining Activities

Abstract

The development of the mining industry is necessary for the national GDP growth. The gold mining operation provides great support to local people in the construction of roads, hospitals and schools. However the damage caused due to the illegal gold mining in Ivory Coast has become increasingly worrying. Thousands of miners unlawfully exploit gold in many parts of the national territory. The local people, especially the children see artisanal gold mining as a faster way to get out of the growing poverty. According to the investigation with local people, MDA, mining companies, the rebellion in 2002 and the post-election crisis in 2010 were a key issue. As result of the political unrest many children have left school to move into the mining activities. This paper focuses on some existing problems relating to the minors in artisanal gold mine as well as how the illegal gold mining activities should increasingly concern the state's authorities who have to display their determination to stop this recurring phenomenon. In this paper, some suggestions will be proposed and we also support some initiatives and actions of the current government in order to reduce the rate of children or if possible to withdraw all the children from mining sites. The World Bank, financial institutions, NGOs are appealing too to play a major support role to eradicate child labor and to protect children in Ivory Coast and over the world.

A Study on Ivory Coast with the Impacts of Artisanal Gold Mining on Local Livelihoods and the Mining Industry

“…According to the UNICEF statistics in 2011, at least 150 million children had been found in child labor. All those children from developing countries are aged between 5 to 14 years old [11].…”

Human Health Risks from Exposure to Heavy Metals of Suspended Particulate Matter around the Tongon Gold Mine, Côte d’Ivoire

“…In order to reduce the country's dependence on these crops and ensure economic recovery, the Ivorian government has encouraged mineral exploration and mining development [13]. As in many developing countries, mining contributes to economic growth and poverty reduction through job creation and foreign exchange earnings [14] [15]. Several licenses have been granted to gold exploration companies in recent years [14] [16].…”

Overview of Rock Burst Research in China and Its Application in Ivory Coast

“…In addition, the unstable geological structure with some broken belts, which often causes rock burtt in China, in that region is also matters. The decision to close many illegal mines in China has inspired the current government of Ivory Coast, which ruled to close more than 150 illegal gold mines sites in the northern and central parts of the country after several fatalities from a landslide in which five people, including children, died [10]. In Ivory Coast, rock bursts have killed roughly 20 miners each year [11].…”