Together with the Shine Collab, we conducted a workshop with women from Hanyanya, a community close to the lithium mine of Bikita in Zimbabwe.
These women are on the frontlines of resisting mining activities' environmental and social impacts. The workshop's objective was to discuss and analyse the gender and human rights implications of lithium extraction in the region and help develop the community's skills, resources, and tools to strengthen their struggle and collective action to defend their rights.
This initiative brought together women from the community to engage in critical dialogues on human rights, gender justice, and the impact of lithium extraction on their lives. The workshop provided an intimate and safe space for these women to share their experiences with land dispossession, water pollution, and gender-based violenceβall consequences of the lithium mining operations taking place close to their community.
The workshop combined plenary discussions, group work, and testimonies that allowed the women to collectively analyse the systems of oppression they face and discuss strategies for resistance. The workshop also featured group exercises to analyse the effects of lithium extraction on women's rights, focusing on areas such as water, health, education, and natural resources.
During these activities, participants explored how gender dynamics exacerbate the negative impacts of resource extraction, recognising that women, due to their roles as primary caretakers, are disproportionately affected by water and land access disruptions. The event aimed to foster solidarity among the participants and raise awareness about the intersectionality of gender injustice and environmental degradation.
