Prevention of Child and Forced Labour

Advancing Sustainable Development Goals When following the Prevention of Child and Forced Labour Verification Protocol, mining companies work to advance the Sustainable Development Goals. • Contributing to the eradication of forced labour by verifying that no form of forced labour is used at their operations and, in areas of greater risk, introducing measures to monitor workforce recruitment and labour used in supply chains • Preventing child labour by verifying that the company’s workforce meets the minimum age requirements set out by the International Labour Organization. International Labour Organization Conventions The TSM Prevention of Child and Forced Labour Verification Protcol is grounded in a set of conventions from the International Labour Organization. These include: • Forced Labour Convention : This convention defines forced labour as “all work or services which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself voluntarily”. It specifically prohibits the use of forced labour for the benefit of private companies. • Minimum Age Convention : This convention establishes minimum age requirements for child labour at 15 years of age and further establishes 18 years of age as the minimum age for work that could be considered dangerous to young people. • Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention : This convention identifies the worst forms of child labour and requires that preventative measures be taken. This includes all forms of slavery and work that is likely to harm the health, safety, or morals of children. Case Study: Protecting Girls in Mali B2Gold is strongly committed to the protection of human rights, including the prevention of child and forced labour. The company has a series of policies, standards and procedures to ensure that neither child nor forced labor occurs within its operations, including within its supply chain. B2Gold has also implemented programs that go beyond its operations. Near its Fekola Mine in Mali, B2Gold and UNICEF have partnered in the Kéniéba mining district, one of the most important gold producing areas in Africa and home to substantial artisanal mining. A traditional livelihood and common activity, artisanal mining also poses significant risks of child and forced labour, especially to girls. The B2Gold/UNICEF partnership includes initiatives to provide: • Daycare services to mothers with children under 5 years • Education and training at mobile sites to children aged 6-10 • Accelerated schooling for children aged 9-12 • Psychosocial support, adolescent support groups, and education and training for teens, especially girls, including information on healthy relationships and gender-based violence. By supporting children to have access to education and child protection services, the partnership aims to provide a better future to children away from artisanal mining sites and child labour. © UNICEF/UN0293824/Keïta