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Since 1996, over 5.5 million people have died in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from war-related causes. Many women and children have been raped. Though the wars officially ended in the DRC in 2003, over 2.5 million people live as refugees. Armed groups earn millions of dollars every year by trading conflict minerals, that is, gold tin, tantalum and tungsten which are in all consumer electronic products. Government troops and militias fight to control the mines, and civilians are murdered and raped as a result.
The Dodd-Frank Act, a major financial reform bill passed in 2010, requires companies to disclose if they are using minerals from the DRC. In order for that to occur, the SEC has to issue rules on how companies comply with the Dodd-Frank Act. Although the SEC was supposed to issue the new rules within 270 days of the Act’s passage, it has been over 530 days and the rules have yet to be issued.
A letter sent in March to SEC by Earthworks, non-profit organization, states that the new rules, when implemented, “have the potential to help increase transparency and sourcing choice, and allow responsible companies, customers, and investors to avoid complicity in conflict and human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Sign the petition created by Democracy In Action, and tell the SEC to stop dragging its feet!
They Must STOP!!!!! Fighting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!