Conflict Minerals: Catholic Bishops Press EU on Conflict Minerals

Oct 22, 2014 | Sue Reisinger, Corporate Counsel
View Original

Some 70 Roman Catholic bishops from around the world and a global Catholic development agency are urging the EU to make proposed rules for so-called conflict minerals binding on companies, rather than seeking voluntary compliance.

“Companies are selling products containing natural resources that fuel violence and suffering,” the bishops’ statement says. “We, Catholic leaders throughout the world, call on the EU to put an end to this.” The statement was supported by CIDSE, a coalition of international Catholic development agencies.

The rules, which could go into effect as early as next year, are aimed at getting companies to disclose if they use minerals mined in conflict zones, such as where armed groups illegally control mines and mineral trading routes, use forced labor, extort money or commit other human rights abuses.