The Simandou mining project, presented as a major driver of economic development for Guinea, raises serious concerns regarding the rights of women in affected areas. Women face numerous challenges, including the loss of agricultural land, exclusion from consultations and decision-making bodies, inadequate compensation, and restricted access to grievance mechanisms.

In rural areas, women play a central role in subsistence farming. Large-scale land acquisitions along the Simandou corridor have created significant pressure on land availability, disproportionately affecting women. Djenaba Mansaré, whose land was affected by the railway project, lamented women's limited access to information and their low representation in compensation committees. Despite receiving compensation, the loss of income and environmental degradation have had a major impact on her family. Similarly, Aïssata was poorly informed about the project's impact on her land and ultimately received only a fraction of the compensation promised.

Action Mines Guinée calls on project developers to comply with applicable standards, including Article 15 of the ECOWAS Mining Directive and IFC Performance Standard 5, to which the Rio Tinto Simfer Winning Consortium has committed, requiring fair compensation, access to information, and meaningful participation of affected communities. The organisation recommends inclusive consultation channels, balanced representation, and targeted capacity-building for women to enable them to play an active role in decision-making related to mining projects.

BHRC contacted Rio Tinto and Winning Consortium Simandou for a response to these findings. Neither company responded.