MAKATI, 26 MAY– The Philippines blazed the trail for responsible and ethical gold coming from the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector with the launching of the Compassionate Gold brand in the Philippine Fashion Week on May 26, 2018.

“I am very pleased it is in the Philippines that we have launched the Compassionate Gold brand — the standard for sustainable and ethical small-scale gold mining practices that is anchored on human rights. Compassionate Gold ensures human welfare in every gram of gold,” Fr. Rey San Juan, the then Board of Trustees President of the non-government organization BAN Toxics said.

BAN Toxics, together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office in the Philippines, are leading initiatives in the country’s ASGM sector to eliminate child labor and improve working conditions through the CARING Gold Project. In addition, BAN Toxics, as an NGO, is working on eradicating the use of the toxic chemical mercury from gold processing. These initiatives are funded by the U.S. Department of Labour.

“ILO works with BAN Toxics to reach out to mining communities in Camarines Norte and South Cotabato, and to help them transition from the informal to formal economy. The ILO believes that this is a key to sustainably and safely work, and to comply with environmental, health and labour standards. This, in essence, embodies the Compassionate Gold brand,” ILO Country Director Khalid Hassan said in a speech delivered by ILO Enterprise Development Specialist Hideki Kagohashi during the event.

Compassionate Gold is the gold brand that aims to uplift the lives of miners, their families and mining communities. It aims to transform the ASGM sector by ensuring that the source of gold follows these specific criteria: 1) part of formal economy; 2) legally-operated; 3) employs environmentally-sound practices; 4) does not use mercury; 5) promotes decent working conditions; 6) has no gender inequality; 7) has no child labor; 8) does not contribute to armed conflict; and 9) has transparent supply chains.

For his part, Audie Espino, founder of the Philippine Fashion Week, emphasized how proud he is that the Philippine Fashion Week will serve as a platform for change in the ASGM sector. “I am very proud to say that change will start in the Philippines. We will be the first in the world to launch this kind of initiative and we hope that Compassionate Gold will serve as a model for countries to emulate.”

The Compassionate Gold brand launch was witnessed by representatives from local and national government agencies, non-government organizations, and fashion enthusiasts. Guests included Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, Department of Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Marjorie Jalosjos, Penson and Company, Inc. President Richard Penson, among others.

Compassionate Gold is currently being piloted in the municipality of T’boli in South Cotabato. To ensure the integrity of the brand, a multi-partite monitoring team is currently being set up composed of government, non-government and mining groups, to certify compliance.

Stay tuned for the showing of a line of Compassionate Gold jewelry in the Philippine Fashion Week this October.