TIME TO TACKLE THE EU TRADE IN CONFLICT MINERALS

My name is Bandi Mbubi. When I first came to the UK from the Democratic Republic of the Congo over 20 years ago, I was homesick. I missed my family and the friends I left behind; communication was extremely difficult. Today it’s so much easier. My two sons can talk to my parents and get to know them using their mobile phones.

Like many of you I’m sure, I’m dependent on my phone, my laptop and other electronic equipment for so many things I want to do. But I’m also concerned because I know from experience that these wonderful and necessary products are causing unimaginable suffering back in my home country.

That’s why I’m writing to you now. Conflict minerals — minerals that are mined, and fuelling conflict, in areas such as the Congo — mean that a huge range of our electronic products could be tainted by forced labour, sexual violence and children forced to fight by armed groups. But we have an opportunity to change that.

Please call on European Parliamentary leaders to support strong laws to tackle the trade in conflict minerals.

Over 148,793 messages have already been sent to Members of the European Parliament, calling for real action on this issue and the pressure is working. The EU development committee recently came out in support of legally binding legislation to tackle the trade in conflict minerals, a big step in the right direction.1

But we have to keep it up: at the moment the current proposal doesn’t go far enough. The voluntary scheme on the table is unlikely to have any impact on the way European companies source their minerals.

In just a few weeks the European Parliament will have it’s say. We’re calling on the leaders of all the parliamentary political groups, our representatives in Brussels, to take a stand against this deadly trade and vote for a law that ensures EU companies source minerals responsibility.

My organisation Congo Calling,2 along with Walk Free, business leaders, faith leaders and many others are united in this struggle to address the exploitation and modern slavery fuelled by conflict minerals. Can you take a moment to join us?

If, like me, you want to be sure your electronics are free of conflict and modern slavery, take action now.

In solidarity,

Bandi and the whole Walk Free team.

P.S. We all have the ability to make change happen. Once you’ve taken action, why not visit Congo Calling’s website to see how we’re working to raise awareness of the problems facing people in the Congo and find out how you can get involved?

Right now, we have an important opportunity to tackle the deadly trade in conflict minerals which are often sourced in extreme conditions of exploitation, violence and modern slavery.1

The European Commission has put forward a proposal to encourage companies to check their supply chains to ensure that the minerals they buy from conflict-affected and high-risk areas are sourced responsibly and don’t fund violence or suffering.

This is a landmark opportunity for progress, but the current proposal doesn’t go nearly far enough. The voluntary scheme on the table is unlikely to have any impact on the way European companies source their minerals. It is also unlikely to meaningfully tackle the trade in conflict minerals.

That’s where you come in. The European Parliament is due to vote on this proposal soon and our representatives in Brussels will have a landmark opportunity to vote for a law that ensures EU companies source minerals responsibly. But they’ll only act if we let them know how important this issue is to us.

If you’ve ever had a moment’s doubt about the story behind your phone or laptop, and the people that helped to mine the parts to make them, now is the time to add your name.

Call on the European Parliament to show leadership in the fight to end the unacceptable abuses fuelled by conflict minerals.