'African governments asked to support artisanal and small-scale mining', 4 Nov 2014: Oliver P. Maponga...of ...UNECA [United Nations Economic Commission for Africa] said...during...a...workshop...on the African Mining Vision (AMV) and the ECOWAS Mineral Development Policy (EMDP)...[that] the negative impact of an improperly regulated ASM [artisanal and small mining sector] had dire consequences for both...people and the environment and urged governments to support the sector...[to overcome]...negative environmental impacts such as mercury contamination, deforestation, siltation...child labor and gender inequality...poor working conditions...illicit trade...linked to conflict...adverse health and safety impacts [etc.]...[He] observed that[according to]...International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates...ASM provides 13 to 20 million jobs across 80 countries...50 percent of the miners are women while 10 percent...[are] children...[This sector] provides livelihood support to between 80 to 100 million people...The regulation of the sector...would provide job opportunities to thousands of unemployed youth, protect the environment as well as generat[e]...revenue by the state for developmental projects.