EARTHWORKS

Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is a multi-sector effort  to develop and establish a:

• voluntary system to
• independently verify compliance with
• environmental,
• human rights and
• social standards for
• mining operations.

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

These are strange bedfellows -- but all recognize the need to create incentives to promote responsible practice.

There is currently no mechanism to independently verify the mining operations that might operate responsibly, or to offer these incentives. It is this need that IRMA seeks to meet.

For more information:

• Visit the IRMA website.