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Illicit gold mining and trafficking pose a major challenge to our region’s security and stability, all while financially benefiting the Maduro narco-regime in Venezuela, destroying sensitive ecosystems, and causing human rights abuses across the region.
U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the United States Legal Gold and Mining Partnership Strategy Act to prevent illicit gold mining in Latin America and multiple developing countries. The bill would require the President to establish a strategy to break linkages between artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and illicit actors; block illicit actors’ financing; discourage ASM mining in environmentally protected areas; aid ASM miners to formalize their business activities;, increase capacity; and use environmentally sustainable practices, and support socioeconomic development programs, law enforcement capacity-building, and international initiatives.
“Illicit gold mining is a major source of financing for the dictatorial Maduro regime and comprises a large share of the international gold market. It is time to crack down on this corrupt, criminal enterprise. The United States must hold those involved in this unlawful industry accountable and prevent Maduro and his cronies from reaping further profits while the Venezuelan people suffer unimaginable hardships.” — Senator Rubio
“The illicit mining and trafficking of gold in Latin America and the Caribbean funds transnational criminal organizations, degrades our hemisphere’s rain forests and biodiversity, facilitates human rights abuses, and helps prop up brutal dictatorships like that of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro. The United States must do more to develop and implement a strategy to combat these harmful effects and work with international and private stakeholders to promote responsible gold supply chains, and I am proud to help lead this bill to do just that.” — Senator Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
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October 2021: Rubio, Cruz, Tillis Introduce Bill to Disrupt Illicit Metals Mining and Trafficking
September 2021: English/ Español: Rubio Joins Menendez, Colleagues in Introducing Resolution on Illicit Gold Mining in Latin America
December 2019: Rubio Chairs Hearing on Illicit Mining and its Impacts on Security and Human Rights
RUBIO, MENENDEZ INTRODUCEN LEGISLACIÓN PARA FRENAR MINERÍA DE ORO ILEGAL, PRIVANDO INGRESOS DEL RÉGIMEN DE MADURO
La minería y el tráfico ilícito de oro plantean un problema y desafío importante para la seguridad y estabilidad de nuestra región. Todo mientras beneficia financieramente al narco-régimen de Maduro en Venezuela, destruyendo ecosistemas sensibles y causando abusos a DDHH en toda la región.
Los senadores estadounidenses Marco Rubio (R-FL) y Bob Menendez (D-NJ) introdujeron un proyecto de ley para prevenir la minería de oro ilícita en América Latina y múltiples países en desarrollo. La legislación requeriría que el presidente de EE.UU. establezca una estrategia para romper los vínculos entre la minería artesanal y la de pequeña escala (ASM, por sus siglas en inglés) al igual que busca bloquear el financiamiento de actores ilícitos; desalentar la minería ASM en áreas ambientalmente protegidas; ayudar a los mineros de ASM a formalizar sus actividades comerciales; aumentar la capacidad; y utilizar prácticas ambientalmente sostenibles, y apoyar los programas de desarrollo socio-económico, la creación de capacidad para hacer cumplir la ley y las iniciativas internacionales.
“La minería de oro ilegal es una fuente financiera importante para el régimen dictatorial de Maduro y conforma gran parte del mercado internacional del oro. Es hora de tomar medidas enérgicas en contra de este mercado criminal y corrupto. EE.UU. debe responsabilizar a aquellos que están involucrados en esta industria ilegal y evitar que Maduro y sus secuaces obtengan más ganancias mientras el pueblo venezolano sufre dificultades inimaginables”. — Senador Rubio
“La minería y el tráfico ilícito de oro en América Latina y el Caribe no solo financian a sindicatos criminales transnacionales, sino también debilitan la selva y la biodiversidad de nuestro hemisferio, facilitan los abusos de los derechos humanos y ayudan a sostener dictaduras brutales como la de Nicolás Maduro en Venezuela. Estados Unidos debe hacer más para desarrollar e implementar una estrategia para combatir estos efectos dañinos y trabajar con todas las entidades internacionales y privadas para promover cadenas de suministro de oro responsables. Estoy orgulloso de ayudar a liderar este proyecto de ley para hacer precisamente eso”. — Senador Menendez, Presidente del Comité de Relaciones Exteriores del Senado
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