Protecting, Promoting and Enforcing Human Rights and Fundamental Freedom Thematic Working Groups (TWGS) [continued] On the 12th of March 2015 the ZHRC attended the launch of two position papers by the Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (ZELA). The titles of the papers are: “Formalising and Integrating Large, Small and Artisanal Gold Mining and Trading to Increase the Contribution of Gold to Zimbabwe's Economy and Development” and “Understanding Mineral Revenue Leakages in Zimbabwe”. The two research papers were commissioned by PACT and ZELA respectively. The workshop was attended by members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy, representatives from ZELA, PACT, ZHRC, Parliament and journalists in mining. The position papers urged miners to regularise their mining activities in order to improve their contribution to the fiscus. On the 26th-28th of August 2015 the ZHRC in partnership with ZELA organised a three day training workshop of the programmes staff to strengthen the capacity of the ZHRC to handle complaints of EESCR violations in mining communities as a way of promoting Human Rights. The 21st of September 2015 saw the Commission making great strides to formally operationalise the Environmental Rights Thematic Working Group through an inception meeting. The meeting was attended by among others, stakeholders from government, civil society and faith based organisations. The meeting resulted in the nomination of the following as members of the TWG: Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Ministry of Environment and Climate, Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, ZELA, National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines and Zimbabwe Council of Churches. The Commission was invited by ZELA to attend the ZAMI workshop on the 23rd-24th of September 2015. The objectives of the workshop were to provide an alternative space for stakeholders to discuss some of the opportunities and challenges in Zimbabwe's mining sector and the impacts of mining on community livelihoods, human rights and environmental sustainability among others; and how these could be addressed; to create a platform for engagement among mining companies, government and civil society, the media and the communities affected by mining operations and to discuss the on-going legal reforms and developments in the mining sector . The workshop recommended, amongst others that the Government should ensure transparency and accountability as a way of unlocking value from the mining sector and to formulate a completely new Mines and Minerals Act which is in line with the principles of the African Mining Vision formulated in 2009 by the African Heads of State and aligned to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No.20) Act 2013. Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2015 47