16 09 13 – New EU law could help stop natural resource trade fuelling conflict

Breaking the Links Between Natural Resources and Conflict: The Case for EU Regulation,
published today, sets out the key elements that must be included in EU
legislation to compel European businesses to carry out thorough supply
chain checks, known as due diligence. The checks allow companies to make
sure they are not using or trading natural resources that are funding
violence.

“For decades the trade in minerals, precious stones and other
commodities has played a central role in funding and fuelling some of
the world’s most brutal conflicts”, said Sophia Pickles of Global
Witness. “The research we’re publishing today demonstrates that this is
still a daily reality for people in resource-rich countries around the
globe like Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Burma, Zimbabwe and
the Central African Republic, where violence is a major obstacle to
development.”

“As the world’s largest trading bloc, and home to many leading global
companies trading and manufacturing natural resources, the EU’s
leverage over global supply chains is hugely significant,” said Chantal
Daniels of Christian Aid. “This is an unmissable opportunity for the EU
to bring in strong and effective legislation. If they fail to do so then
business will continue as usual and most companies will not check
whether their purchases have funded conflict,” added Zobel Behalal of
CCFD-Terre Solidaire.

The NGO coalition is calling for the EU to build on momentum
generated by initiatives like the US Dodd Frank Act’s conflict minerals
provision, and require EU-based companies to carry out supply chain
checks that meet international due diligence standards developed by the
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). EU Member
States have already endorsed the OECD Guidance and the framework forms
the basis for several industry responsible sourcing initiatives
globally.

The coalition recommends that the draft EU legislation:

• Applies to all natural resources originating in any conflict-affected and high-risk area;
• Is based on relevant international instruments, including the
  International Bill of Human Rights, the UN Guiding Principles on
  Business and Human Rights and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for
  Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas;
• Takes a risk-based approach that considers impacts on individuals and communities;
• Complements existing EU initiatives and legislation to promote
  transparency and sustainable development and forms part of a
  comprehensive approach to prevent environmental destruction, reinforce
  governance and encourage security sector and mining reform in natural
  resource-rich developing countries.

“Doing due diligence is beneficial for European business, not least
because it helps companies manage brand risk and make sure they’re not
paying for war,” said Marianne Moor of IKV Pax Christi. “Properly
implemented, an EU law would allow trade to take place but not at the
cost of gross human rights abuses.”

/Ends

Contacts:

Global Witness: Sophia Pickles, +44 207 492 5893; +44 7703 108 449; spickles@globalwitness.org

Christian Aid: Chantal Daniels, + 44 7446499839; CDaniels@christian-aid.org

CCFD-Terre Solidaire: Karine Appy, + 33 1 44 82 80 67; + 33 6 66 12 33 02; k.appy@ccfd-terresolidaire.org  

IKV Pax Christi: Marianne Moor, +33 653221379; moor@ikvpaxchristi.nl

Notes to editors:

1)    The OECD published the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas in
2010. It was negotiated by a working group of governments, NGOs and
companies. The Guidance has been endorsed by the UN Security Council and
the ICGLR, among others, and has emerged as the international standard
for due diligence.

2)    The signatories to the position paper are:

1. Acidi Congo (South Kivu), DRC;
2. Action des Chrétiens Activistes des Droits de l'Homme à Shabunda, DRC (ACADHOSHA);
3. Action Aid, Netherlands; Africa Faith and Justice Network, US;
4. Africa Faith and Justice Network;
5. African Socialist International;
6. Amnesty International;
7. Action pour la Promotion et la Défense des Droits des Personnes Défavorisées, DRC (APRODEPED);
8. Association pour le Développement des Initiatives Paysannes, DRC (ASSODIP);
9. Belgian Network Natural Resources (BNNR-RBRN);

10.  Bureau d’Etudes, d’observation et de coordination pour le Développement du territoire de Walikale (BEDEWA), DRC;

11.  Burma Environmental Working Group;

12.  CCFD Terre-Solidaire, France;

13.  Centre for Research and Investigation into the Environment, Democracy and Human Rights, DRC (CREDDHO);

14.  Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations, Netherlands (SOMO);

15.  Centre National d’Appui au Développement et à la Participation Populaire (CENADEP);

16.  Center for Trade Union and Human Rights, Philippines (CTUH);

17.  Centre de Recherche sur les Ressources Naturelles (CRRN);

18.  Christian Aid;

19.  Coopération Internationale pour le Développement et la Solidarité (CIDSE);

20.  Commission on Natural Resources of the DRC Bishops’ Conference (CERN);

21.  Congo Calling, UK;

22.  Earthworks, US;

23.  European Coalition for Corporate Justice (ECCJ);

24.  Enough Project, US;

25.  Fair Trade Centre, Sweden;

26.  Finnwatch, Finland;

27.  Forum InformatikerInnen für Frieden und gesellschaftliche Verantwortung e.V. (FIfF), Germany;

28.  Free the Slaves, US;

29.  Germanwatch;

30.  Global Witness;

31.  Good Electronics;

32.  Green IT, France;

33.  Institute for Community & Adolescent Resiliency, US;

34.  IKV Pax Christi, the Netherlands;

35.  India Committee of the Netherlands (ICN);

36.  Info Birmanie;

37.  International Crisis Group;

38.  Investors Against Genocide;

39.  Jesuit European Social Center;

40.  Justice & Paix;

41.  Jewish World Watch (JWW);

42.  Kachin Development Networking Group, Burma (KDWG);

43.  Kaisampalad, Inc.;

44.  Karen Environmental and Social Action Network, Burma (KESAN);

45.  Mark Taylor, Senior Researcher, FAFO Institute for Applied International Studies Oslo, Norway;

46.  Pa-Oh Youth Organisation, Burma (PYO);

47.  Partnership Africa Canada, Canada (PAC);

48.  Le Réseau européen pour l’Afrique Centrale (EURAC);

49.  Save Act Mine, DRC;

50.  Save the Congo, UK;

51.  Shan Sapawa, Burma;

52.  Shwe Gas Movement, Burma;

53.  Students and Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour (SACOM), China;

54.  Sϋdwind, Austria;

55.  Swedwatch, Sweden;

56.  Swisspeace;

57.  Voder, DRC;

58.  Workers Assistance Center, Inc., Philippines;

59.  Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association.