Child slavery in the artisanal mining and quarrying sector 2011, para. 82
Paragraph
Paragraph text
Lastly, unregulated artisanal mines and quarries pose serious medium- and long-term risks to food security and the environment. They are the cause of rapid deforestation, destruction of landscape, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. Water, soil and air contamination occur as a result of: cyanide and mercury poisoning; direct dumping of tailings and effluents into rivers; river siltation; and river damage in alluvial areas. Children drinking, cooking and washing in contaminated water face immediate and long-term risks to their health.
Legal status
Non-negotiated soft law
Body
Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences