DRC: Parliament Prioritises Human Rights in Conflict Minerals Crackdown

May 21, 2015 | Julie Levy-Abegnoli, The Parliament
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Parliament turned into its own conflict zone when MEPs approved new rules in an effort to stop blood minerals from being used in products made in Europe. Tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold - found in a large number of electronics, such as mobile phones - are often produced in war-torn countries, with profits funding the conflicts. Now, led by an S&D campaign, parliament has voted for a mandatory due diligence system throughout the entire supply chain, going against rapporteur Iuliu Winkler's proposal for a voluntary reporting mechanism.