USA: Reject legal threat to lifesaving Conflict Minerals Rule | Amnesty International

USA: Reject legal threat to lifesaving Conflict Minerals Rule | Amnesty International:

 US corporate interests must not be allowed to invalidate the Conflict Minerals Rule, which requires companies to investigate and disclose whether their products contain certain minerals that help fund armed groups in mineral-rich countries in Africa, said Amnesty International today.

The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear a challenge by three industry groups against the rule on Tuesday. Amnesty International joined the lawsuit to support the rule.

“This legal challenge to the Conflict Minerals Rule is nothing but a crass effort by industry groups to put profits ahead of principles,” said Steven Hawkins, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA.

“The rule was required by Congress to save lives and stop human rights abuses by curbing the flow of funding to armed groups operating with impunity in the areas these minerals are mined – in Democratic Republic of the Congo and other central African countries.”

The Conflict Minerals Rule was required by the US Congress in 2010 as part of a raft of measures to reform business practices after the 2008 economic downturn.

Minerals from conflict zones are used in a range of popular consumer products, including mobile phones, computers, light bulbs and tin cans.

Minerals from conflict zones are used in a range of popular consumer products, including mobile phones, computers, light bulbs and tin cans.

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