A/HRC/18/30 110. Governments should provide employers with information about affordable and alternative methods by which to reduce the adverse environmental impact on water, soil and air. This would benefit the health of the children living around the mines and quarries. Governments should also provide incentives for employers who meet environmental safety standards and work with United Nations agencies such as UNEP and the Global Mercury Project which was set up by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Global Environment Facility, which already have experience in mitigating the environmental impact of gold-mining. 111. Governments should establish programmes to create awareness in frontier communities about the health risks they face particularly with regard to handling toxic chemicals such as mercury, cyanide and lead. The communities should undergo testing for contamination and those contaminated should be provided with medical care. Local health workers should be clinically trained on how to prevent, diagnose and treat contamination. These programmes should also extend to ensure that workers are made aware of the less visible and long-term negative impact on the environment (soil, water) which threatens food security and biodiversity. 112. Governments should provide frontier communities with basic services such as potable water and sanitary facilities. Governments should also provide health clinics and ensure that communities can access good-quality health services free of charge or at an affordable price. This would improve family living and health conditions and thereby diminish their expenses and their need to bring children to work with them. 113. CSOs and international organizations should work to ensure that alternative childcare services are also available so that mothers are not in a situation in which they take children with them to the mining and quarrying sites because of the lack of specific places to take care of children while they are working. 23

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