Equality in Mongolia

UQ PhD student, Isabel Cane, School of Anthropology

From the small coastal town of Port Lincoln in South Australia comes UQ Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student, Isabel Cane, whose discoveries have helped enforce equality in the small communities of the Mongolian desert.

Ms Cane is exploring the gendered impacts of mining on the Mongolian Gobi communities and researching how the community relations programs of mining companies address these impacts.

Unlike some scientific research degrees that are traditionally laboratory based, Ms Cane conducted her research by living in the Gobi desert for six months, allowing her first-hand insight into both the internal corporate processes and Mongolian communities.

“My time in the Gobi was one of the more demanding and most insightful parts of my research. The families I lived with and visited are nomadic, travelling with the seasons and enduring extreme weather – over forty degrees in summer to minus forty degrees in winter and no running water. I lived in a Ger (a traditional felt tent) with no running water and sporadic power. The life of people in the Gobi is tough but fulfilling – you appreciate a cup of tea when you have walked a kilometre to get your water," Ms Cane said.

“Both the mining companies and communities were very open to assisting me with my research. Mongolia is only just starting to develop its minerals industry and companies are seeking to behave responsibly and develop good relationships with communities, so they were supportive of my research and its objective appraisal.

“My time in Gobi allowed me a chance to develop a trust with the communities who felt safe discussing sensitive issues and concerns”.

Ms Cane investigated a number of small and large mining companies operating in Mongolia and confirmed the lack of engagement in gendered impacts within these mining companies.

One of Ms Cane’s discoveries was uncovering a high level of sexual exploitation in a mining company.

“Foreign managers were pushing local female employees on to foreign directors. The women felt a form of obligation and were concerned about losing their jobs if they did not comply,” she said.

“I shared this data with a local nongovernmental organisation (NGO), the Gender Centre for Sustainable Development (GCSD), who used the case to successfully advocate for a gender discrimination law that was recently accepted by the Mongolian parliament.

“Hence, my research was used to help advocate a new Mongolian law and now protects females in the workplace from exploitation”.

Ms Cane also exposed the forced resettlement of families in the Gobi who had lived in the area for hundreds of years.

As a result, they were successfully awarded substantial compensation and awareness of these issues was raised within the mining company and across Mongolia.

Her successes in engaging with communities and companies, uncovering vital information, and supporting Mongolian families have led to instrumental policy changes that will now shape the future of residents in the Gobi.

Upon completing her PhD, Ms Cane’s goal is to become a consultant in the mining industry and provide expert advice to groups in Australia and Mongolia on development, mining and cross-cultural issues.

Media: Carly Stokes, UQ Graduate School, (+61 7) 3346 0517

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