Your Time Is Now; It's Hero Time

The issue of conflict minerals has been smoldering for months and has once again caught fire.

United Nations Report Support Efforts to Change

A report recently released by the United Nations Group of Experts again linked the aweful conflict in the Congo with the trade in minerals such as tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold. The report recommends member nations to support the requirements as set out by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) on the trade of minerals from conflict areas. I will discuss the UN report in the future.

Outcry For Congo Campaign

In the USA, Congo activist Lisa Shannon and team are gearing up to show its nation;s leaders the importance of developing a strong framework of accountability in Congo to stop the use of conflict minerals. In addition to a direct protest in Washington, an online campaign has been launched called Outcry for Congo.

The Outcry for Congo Facebook page is just a few days old but has already attracted hundreds of supporters. Make your voice heard by 'Liking' their Facebook page and participating in the group's activities.

Click Here to learn more about the Outcry for Congo Virtual Campaign

Government Fails to Throw Punch Against Congo's Conflict Minerals

The UK High Court has denied permission for a Judicial Review of the UK government's decision not to refer certain British companies for targeted sanctions by the United Nations. The move provides good insight for those working to stop the use of conflict minerals in the raw material supply chains.

According to UK-based non-governmental organization Global Witness, a number of UK companies are known to have been trading in minerals source from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. The most common conflict minerals are tantalum, tin, tungsten and gold.

Britain is a permanent member of the UN Security Council and major financial donor to the DR Congo. With that said, one would think that they would be prepared to investigate and refer companies to break their links to conflict minerals.

Top Conflict Minerals Videos

Videos bringing awareness to ending the use of conflict minerals:

United Nations Completes Report on Human Rights Violations in Congo; Cites Link Between Violence and Conflict Minerals

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights recently released a report documenting some of the most serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law committed within the Democratic Republic of the Congo between March 1993 and June 2003.

The report also assessed the capacities existing with the Congo's justice system to deal appropriately with the human rights violations which may be uncovered.

Click here to view the complete report

Dealing with current violations alone have proved difficult in the country. For example, a probe into the murder of high-profile human rights campaigner Floribert Chebeya revealed a role directly by local police in the murder.

According to UK-based NGO Global Witness, the report also "robustly demonstrates the need to sever the link between the mineral trade and violence, and for individuals and companies to be held to account."

To begin to address the issue, Global Witness is calling for a verifiable system of due diligence within the mineral supply chain. The key elements of such a system would be:

1. Policy on Conflict Minerals
2. Assessment of Supply Chain Risks
3. Remedial Action
4. Audit (verifiable)
5. Public Reporting

Supply Chain Needs to Smarten Up

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 has created a compliance matter for the supply chain which they are not skilled to easily address. The unique challenges will require those using coltan (tantalum), wolframite (tungsten), and cassiterite (tin) and gold to comply with upcoming Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.

Company executives are now being warned to begin to develop a strategy for dealing with their use of conflict minerals. In a recent article by Andrew Reese of Supply and Demand Chain Executive, attention is brought to the complexity of the issue. Topics brought up include ongoing Congo dynamics, lack of standards for managing mineral supply chain origins, and tracking tools needed.

One would have thought that the industry would have had time to address these issue. They had better start solving the problem because ready or not, here it comes!

Responses to Conflict Minerals Actions

In the first half of 2010, the issue of conflict minerals has been put front and center. Due to the efforts of non-governmental organizations, certain governments and concerned consumers, participants at all levels of the supply chain for tantalum, tin and tungsten were forced to pay REAL attention to this long-neglected issue.

First: The problem
Now: The response

The first response came in the United States with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed by President Obama. Now, Congo's President Joseph Kabila announced a full ban on all minerals mined in the eastern Congolese provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Maniema.

According to a recent release from the Enough Project, "The ban will not promote an end to the ongoing conflict unless it is accompanied by concrete plans to deliver army reform, certification of mineral exports, and opportunities for peaceful development." Export bans such as those proposed by the Congolese government are difficult to enforce as active smuggling of minerals to surrounding countries is reportedly common.

UK Government v. Global Witness - What is it all about?

London-based non-governmental organization Global Witness recently launched a lawsuit against the British government over their refusal to put forward to the United Nations Sanctions Committee UK-based companies and individuals involved in the illegal trade of conflict minerals.

The United Nations Group of Experts, Global Witness and others have significant evidence showing the involvement by certain select British companies and citizens in supplying armed groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The UK government has argued that the evidence gathered by the United Nations’ own Group of Experts is insufficient for referral to the United Nations Sanctions Committee. Global Witness disagrees.

In November 2009 the United Nations Group of Experts completed a report which named THAISARCO as sourcing minerals from armed groups through their supply chains. THAISARCO is the smelting arm of Amalgamated Metal Corporation (AMC).

Though no independent verification was undertaken, the UK government has said that AMC no longer purchases minerals from eastern DR Congo and so no action is required. While this statement was made, the UK government has failed to independently verify this claim. Global Witness wants to see the UK government adequately investigate companies and individuals suspected of breaching the UK’s international legal obligations.

I find the legal approach by Global Witness unique and look forward to what happens next.