The EU Has Acted on Minerals that Underwrite Modern Slavery

Jun 22, 2016 | Seb Dance
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After years of campaigning, the European Union has agreed an outline deal to combat the unchecked trade in natural resources, which fuels some of the world’s most brutal conflicts, underwriting child labour, sexual violence and modern slavery. Minerals such as tantalum, tungsten and tin - widely used in a range of electronic goods like mobile phones and laptops in the UK - are funding violent armed groups who carry out human rights abuses.

The new rules will put mandatory measures on importers to ensure the metals they source do not contribute to the funding of conflicts or militant groups, a practice which has blighted areas like the Great Lakes region of Africa.