IRMA Update

Most recent doings of the IRMA working groups. Updated 3/21/07.
The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assuranace (IRMA) is a multi-sector effort, launched in Vancouver, Canada, on June 7-9 2006, to develop and establish a voluntary system to independently verify compliance with environmental, human rights and social standards for mining operations. The report from the Vancouver meeting is available here.

Participants include mining companies, jewelry (or jewellery) retailers, NGOs and trade associations.

This June meeting, known as the Vancouver Dialogue, was the culmination of a more informal series of planning and exploratory meetings that took place during the previous year. A report that describes the outcome of those meetings, and served as the basis for the Vancouver Dialogue, is available here.

The meeting announcement that launched IRMA is available here. Note: IRMA was originally called the Responsible Mining Assurance Initiative (RMAI).

Vision

We are working towards a world where mining operations are consistent with healthy communities and environments, and they leave positive legacies.

Need

We recognize that there are operations today that meet this standard and some that do not. We also recognize the need to create incentives to promote responsible practice. However, there is currently no mechanism to independently verify operations that are likely to achieve this result or to offer these incentives. It is this need that IRMA seeks to meet.

Mission and Goals

IRMA seeks to create an independent, third party assurance system to ensure that mines operate in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. IRMA seeks to develop a system with input and support from all key sectors. The following principles would underpin this system:

Approach

IRMA seeks to build on the an existing foundation of research, tools, and initiatives ranging from The Framework for Responsible Mining, to the ICMM Sustainable Development Framework,, to the findings of the Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development project, to the Mining Certification Evaluation Project. Use this site to access these and other documents.

Duration

IRMA has a one year mandate and seeks to establish an initial set of standards and verification system by July 2007. At that time, the IRMA participants will also determine how, if at all, the IRMA process should continue.