My name is Bandi Mbubi. When I first came to the UK from the Democratic Republic of the Congo over 20 years ago, I was homesick. I missed my family and the friends I left behind; communication was extremely difficult. Today it’s so much easier. My two sons can talk to my parents and get to know them using their mobile phones.
Like many of you I’m sure, I’m dependent on my phone, my laptop and other electronic equipment for so many things I want to do. But I’m also concerned because I know from experience that these wonderful and necessary products are causing unimaginable suffering back in my home country.
That’s why I’m writing to you now. Conflict minerals — minerals that are mined, and fuelling conflict, in areas such as the Congo — mean that a huge range of electronic products could be tainted by forced labour, sexual violence and children forced to fight by armed groups. But we have an opportunity to start to change that.
Why Europe? In just a few days the European Parliament will vote on a proposal that could mean companies are legally bound to check their supply chains for conflict minerals and start to address the harm they cause.
Europe is one of the largest economies in the world and responsible for almost a quarter of the global trade in tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold.1 If European decision-makers vote the right way and show leadership on this issue, it has huge potential to positively impact the trade in minerals and set a precedent for tough action elsewhere around the world. Your voice is needed right now to encourage them to take this step.
My organisation Congo Calling,2 along with Walk Free, business leaders, faith leaders and many others are united in this struggle to address the exploitation and modern slavery fuelled by conflict minerals. Can you take a moment to join us?
In solidarity,
Bandi and the whole Walk Free team
P.S. We all have the ability to make change happen. Once you’ve taken action, why not visit Congo Calling’s website to see how we’re working to raise awareness of the problems facing people in the Congo and find out how you can get involved?
1 https://www.globalwitness.org/campaigns/conflict-minerals/conflict-minerals-europe-brief/
2 http://www.congocalling.org/
Walk Free is a movement of people everywhere, fighting to end one of the world’s greatest evils: Modern slavery.
