Insights | Minamata Convention on Mercury

Indigenous Peoples, heavily dependent on natural resources, face heightened vulnerability to mercury pollution. It inflicts irreversible harm on humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), the leading human-induced source of global mercury pollution, releases hundreds of tonnes annually into Indigenous territories, causing widespread environmental devastation and jeopardizing the survival of Indigenous communities.

A stronger engagement

In November 2023, the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-5) noted at its first decision the importance of broadening the participation of Indigenous Peoples, as well as local communities, in the implementation of projects and programmes undertaken under the Minamata Convention, recalling the relevance of their engagement in the work to reduce and eliminate mercury use in ASGM.

In March 2022, COP-4 called upon parties to engage Indigenous Peoples, local communities and other relevant stakeholders in the development and implementation of national action plans to tackle the use of mercury in ASGM. COP-4 also requested the Secretariat to compile views on the needs and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and local communities with regard to the use of mercury in ASGM (see decision MC-4/4).

COP-4 also requested the Secretariat to continue to raise awareness and gather knowledge on the interlinkages between mercury pollution, biodiversity and climate change and tasked with the development of a report on how the Minamata Convention can contribute to the Global Biodiversity Framework, which is expected to be adopted at the Biodiversity COP-15 to be held in Montreal, Canada, in December 2022 (see decision MC-4/12).

ASGM, the single biggest source of emissions and releases of mercury

Mercury used in ASGM directly impacts the health, livelihoods and culture of Indigenous Peoples who are engaged in the mining or who live near or around ASGM sites. Even Indigenous Peoples who live far away are also disproportionately impacted due to mercury’s capacity for long range transport and persistence, and the intertwined connection of Indigenous Peoples with nature and a diet that relies mostly on fish and other aquatic animals known to accumulate high levels of mercury.

Get involved

The Indigenous Peoples Platform of the Minamata Convention on Mercury is being created to facilitate the engagement of Indigenous Peoples in the above-mentioned processes and other relevant work of the Minamata Convention. The Platform is meant as an open and inclusive space to bring together the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples and to promote the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples in the work of the Minamata Convention.

Please contact the mea-minamatasecretariat [at] un.org (Secretariat of the Minamata Convention) to find out more on how Indigenous Peoples and local communities can:

Be engaged in the development, implementation and review of National Action Plans for ASGM under Article 7 of the Convention.
Contribute to monitoring mercury on and around artisanal gold mining sites.
Participate in dialogues that could broaden the participation of Indigenous Peoples’ organizations and local communities’ organizations in the work and meetings of the Convention.
Become an observer to the Minamata COP and be part of the global community fighting against mercury pollution.

Meet the expert

Richard Gutierrez, Programme Management Officer and Indigenous Peoples and local communities focal point of the Secretariat of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Should you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact him at richard.gutierrez [at] un.org.