The NGO Mining Working Group (MWG) is an NGO coalition that, in partnership with our members and affected local communities, advocates at and through the United Nations for human and environmental rights as related to extractive industries. The MWG addresses unjust and unsustainable extractive practices and policies through the lens of the rights of local communities, indigenous peoples, and the Earth’s carrying capacity.
Upcoming Events
Tides of Transformation: Aligning SDG14 Actions from Nice to New York
July 9, 10:00 a.m.-12 p.m. New York time (GMT-4)
Join us for a conversation bridging the outcomes of the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, including the Nice Ocean Action Plan, with the upcoming review of SDG 14 at the 2025 High-Level Political Forum. This event will feature reflections from UNOC3 attendees as well as a strategic discussion ahead of the HLPF to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14.
Past Events & Posts
MWG at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3)
Disturbance in the Deep: A Rights-Based and Values-Based Approach to Deep Sea Conservation
This virtual side event used a rights-based approach to evaluate concerns over unsustainable proposals to develop the deep seabed, including deep sea mining, and to posit more sustainable pathways forward. This panel also explored ocean-climate-biodiversity linkages on the path toward achieving SDG14. Featured speakers included Andrew Whitmore, Bobbi-Jo Dobush, and Rev. James Bhagwan.
Watch the recording on YouTube by clicking here.
MWG Events at UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2025
VULNERACIÓN DEL DERECHO HUMANO AL AGUA EN LA AMAZONÍA: IMPACTOS SOBRE LOS PUEBLOS INDÍGENAS, EL MEDIO AMBIENTE Y LA IMPLEMENTACIÓN DE LA UNDRIP
April 23, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Church Center of the United Nations
Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation: The Urgent Need for Protective Measures Amid Ongoing Threats of Extermination in the Amazon and the Application of UNDRIP
In person. April 23, 2:30-4 p.m. EDT
Opportunity to Share Achievements and Challenges/Networking
In person. April 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. EDT
Human Rights Situation of Indigenous Peoples in West Papua
In person. April 24, 3:00-4:30 p.m. EDT
Extractives, Critical Minerals, and Land Grabbing from the Lens of the Indigenous Peoples
Online. April 29, 1:15-2:45 p.m. EDT
MWG at CSW69 Virtual Parallel Event:
“Women, Water, and Extractivism: Reclaiming Resources, Restoring Rights, Building Justice”
Held on Thursday, March 20, 2025 from 8:30-10 a.m. ET.
Recording available here. Contact the NGO Mining Working Group for access.
MWG at CBD-COP16
On October 24, 2024, the NGO-Mining Working Group hosted a panel presentation in the Faith Hub in the Blue Zone at CBD-COP16 in Cali, Colombia. The panel was called, “Mining, Water, and Biodiversity: Protection and Accountability for the Community of Life.” This panel featured Izabely Carneiro Miranda from Brazil’s Movement for Popular Solidarity in Mining (MAM) as well as pre-recorded remarks from Rev. James Bhagwan of the Pacific Conference of Churches. NGO-Mining Working Group member Blair Nelsen also gave an overview of the NGO-MWG Rights-Based Litmus Test, available on our website.
MWG at the UN Water Conference
Learn More: Water & Sanitation: a People’s Guide to SDG6 is available at http://bit.ly/mwg-sdg6
Learn more: Read our Water Conference supplement to the SDG6 Guide by clicking on this link.
A Virtual Side Event of the UN 2023 Water Conference Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 2-3 p.m. EDT
“Impacts of Extractives on Water and the Environment: Protection and Accountability Through a Human Rights Framework”
Sponsored by NGO Mining Working Group and Center for Earth Ethics
Concept Note: This online panel will highlight the challenges in addressing the human right to equitable access to clean, safe water. Particular attention will be paid to the role that extractive industries, like mining, pose toward meeting the targets of SDG6, as well as cross-cutting issues, including but not limited to: health, migration, gender, Indigenous rights, education, climate change, and biodiversity loss. These are crucial considerations as we build toward a Water Action Agenda that is scalable and committed to action.
Featured Speakers: Talia Boyd – Indigenous Environmental Network – Diné/Navajo Nation
Mary Tahu – Solomon Islands Climate Action Network
Laura Ramirez Chavez – Red Eclesial Panamazonica (REPAM)
Susan Power – Al-Haq
Blair Nelsen – NGO Mining Working Group
“The Sea Is Sacred”: Mining Working Group at the UN Ocean Conference
“The Sea is Sacred: Religious Responses to Deep Seabed Mining” is a virtual side event of the 2022 United Nations Oceans Conference in Lisbon. This event unites faith-based voices to highlight the challenges that deep sea mining poses toward managing, protecting, conserving and restoring marine ecosystems. This virtual side event was recorded on June 29, 2022. It was sponsored by the NGO Mining Working Group, the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, VIVAT International, and the Pacific Conference of Churches.
List of speakers:
His Eminence Cardinal Soane Patita Paini Mafi, Bishop of Tonga & Niue
Rev. James Bhagwan, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches, Fiji
Avery Davis Lamb, co-Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries, USA
Tevita Naikasowalu, JPIC Coordinator and HEIR, Columban Mission Office in Fiji
Sr. Wendy Flannery, RSM, Australia Olivia Baro, Youth Engagement and Empowerment Ecumenical Enabler, Pacific Conference of Churches, Fiji
Learn more about this issue at: https://www.pacificblueline.org/
NGO Mining Working Group 