Pact's Work on Conflict Minerals in the Great Lakes Region

For over a decade, the Provinces of North and South Kivu in the Eastern DRC have been the site of one of the most violent and persistent conflicts in the world. Since 1998, over 5 million people have died in the region as a direct or indirect consequence of war. The mineral trade is perceived as playing a key role in conflicts in the region, but that need not be the case.

Pact’s vision is that in 2015, there is a market-driven, locally and internationally supported, credible mineral sector in the Great Lakes region that respects human rights and environmental values, operates legally, and benefits people and communities as a path to peace and economic development. For more info on our vision and strategy, click here.

In order to realize this vision, three things are needed:

• Systems for mineral chains of custody and for assurance of environmental and social soundness stretching from the mine to the consumer, that set up the right incentives for conflict-free mineral development;
• Capacity of local civil society, government agencies, business, and mining communities to appropriately use and sustain these systems; and
• Awareness locally throughout the Great Lakes Region, and of progress being made on the ground in Europe and the US.

Pact is currently undertaking several activities intended to strengthen local mineral chain of custody systems, build local capacity, and promote awareness of the local context. For more information on our activities in the DRC, reports, and research on mining, conflict, and development, visit our DRC country page.

For more information, contact Marco Konings at mkonings@pactworld.org.