The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ruling on Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act marks a crucial victory in the fight to end the use of the conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold that are mined in eastern Congo often finance armed groups and end up in consumer electronics such as cell phones, laptops, and televisions, as well as automotive equipment, jewelry, and other products. The commission’s decision is a result of two years of hardline advocacy from numerous organizations, concerned citizens, and Congress following the successful passing of the bill.
Section 1502 requires companies to make information about their supply chains available to the public annually. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA)—a lead author of the original bipartisan-supported section—was a strong advocate for the release of the rules. In response to the ruling, he said, “The people of Central Africa, especially African women and children, need companies to act responsibly—and investors and consumers around the world need to know if companies are using a black market or a transparent market to manufacture their products.”
The indisputable link between unregulated mineral extraction and the perpetuation of conflict in eastern Congo must continue to be addressed in a variety of different ways, but this important step will go a long way to ensuring that manufacturers dependent upon the region’s minerals are forced to clean up their supply chains.