The war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the single deadliest conflict since the Second World War, leaving 5.4 million dead and encompassing sexual violence, forced labour and child labour, among other gross human rights violations. 

Mineral wealth has been crucial in sustaining armed groups, creating a cycle of violence: profits from trade in and illegal taxation levied on conflict minerals account for up to 95 per cent of revenue for armed groups operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Legislation is needed in Canada to help contribute to international efforts to break the cycle of violence. A similar law was passed in the U.S. in 2010, the U.S. Conflict Minerals Statutory Provision passed in 2010 as section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act. It has already contributed to a 65 per cent drop in revenue from three of the four 3TG minerals to armed groups and has reduced the price for 3TG minerals in the region that do not go through conflict-free programs by 30-60 per cent, meaning that rebel groups sell fewer conflict minerals and receive lower profits.

Bill C-486, the Conflict Minerals Act, proposed by NDP Member of Parliament Paul Dewar, is a House of Commons Private Member's Bill set to go to a Second Reading vote in September 2014.  STAND strongly supports the vision of the Conflict Minerals Act, which is: to curtail the trade in conflict minerals through requiring companies to adopt practices that will enable them to respect human rights, avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral sourcing practices, and cultivate transparent mineral supply chains.

The Conflict Minerals Act would require Canadian companies that utilize 3TG minerals (tin, tungsten, tantalum, and gold) originating in the Great Lakes Region of Africa (which contains the Democratic Republic of Congo and several other countries) to exercise internationally recognized due diligence standards to ensure that these minerals do not directly or indirectly contribute to fuelling conflict and funding groups engaged in human rights abuses. Further, it would require disclosure of these due diligence efforts so that Canadian consumers will be able to know whether their purchases are contributing to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

The Conflict Minerals Act is a laudable bill that is firmly rooted in internationally recognized standards and maintains a flexible approach with clear expectations. It is an important first-step for Canada in curtailing trade in conflict minerals. Please join STAND in calling upon the House of Commons to pass Bill C-486, the Conflict Minerals Act.

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