Jean Lambert, the Green MEP for London, has welcomed the European Parliament’s overwhelming support for a resolution calling for the adoption of legislation on supply-chain liability for conflict goods from the Democratic Republic of Congo [1].

The resolution, which was adopted yesterday, has requested Council and Commission consider a legislative initiative based on the US ‘Conflict Minerals’ Law. The law requires American companies to disclose what steps they are taking to ensure that their products, including laptops, cell phones and medical devices do not contain “conflict mineral”, such as gold, tin tungsten from the DRC or neighboring countries.

Jean said: “Today’s vote not only strongly condemns the mass atrocities carried out in Democratic Republic of Congo during the summer [2], but also represents an important development for the promotion of corporate social responsibility.

“The illegal exploitation of DRC’s natural resources is a big factor in fuelling and exacerbating the conflict – conflict that has resulted in mass rapes, killings and other human rights violations. By supporting a request for the Council and Commission to consider legislation based on the US ‘Conflict Minerals’ Law, the European Parliament has accepted that business must not turn a blind eye and has an important role to play in developing a just, fair and inclusive society.

“Of course the situation in the DRC cannot be solved by business alone, and the resolution also calls on the Congolese authorities to conduct an impartial and thorough investigation and to bring to justice those responsible for the heinous crimes. Furthermore, as a matter of urgency, it calls on the UN Security Council to take all possible measures to prevent any further attacks on the civilian population.”

Notes to Editors

[1] To read the resolution in full visit: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P7-TA-2010-0350+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN

[2] War and unrest in the eastern province of North Kivu resulted in a widespread and alarming scale of killings, population displacement and sexual violence against women during July 30 and August 3 by the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda and the Mai Mai militia.