Natural Resource Justice, Human Rights and Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining: A Tale of Self-Regulation

Abstract

This dissertation asks the question of how self-regulation of artisanal and small-scale gold mining considers human rights (ASGMs). ASGM is a type of mining activity undertaken by millions of people worldwide, predominately in informal economies. A significant source of livelihood in Ghana, ASGM directly employs an estimated one million people and indirectly supports 4.5 million more. While the sector has vast economic potential and is of great importance for those who participate in it, it is fraught with negative environmental and human rights impacts. The harsh reality of ASGM has gained international attention in recent decades, prompting policy makers to call for formalization of the sector. Public policy interventions to address the negative impacts associated with ASGMs have seen minimal success, and have generally focused on environmental impacts, while human rights have been contemplated to a much lesser degree. To fill this gap, the research presented in this dissertation is done so through a human rights perspective. The exploration of self-regulation and ASGMs is guided by two key schools of thought: natural resource justice and neoliberalism. Where natural resource justice calls for the fair redistribution of resources and the alleviation of poverty through fair access and management, neoliberalism is underpinned by the notion that free and open markets are the key to a prosperous world. With these two theories forming the backdrop of this dissertation, I conclude that the key to overcoming barriers to achieving natural resource justice lay in acknowledging and harnessing the power of self-regulation.

Date of Award	31 Dec 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Carolyn Abbot (Supervisor)