Voices for Change from the Democratic Republic of Congo
“Voices for Change in the Democratic Republic of Congo”
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
First Street and East Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC
Remarks and video presentation by:
Robin Wright, Actress and Activist
Fidel Bafilemba, Congolese Civil Society Leader and Enough Researcher
Light refreshments will be provided.
The instability in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) continues to cause countless deaths, modern forms of slavery in and around the mining sector and has given rise to widespread sexual violence and rape, often used as tools of warfare to terrorize and humiliate communities. The exploitation of natural resources is an underlying driver of this instability.
In December 2008, the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted Resolution 1857, encouraging Member States “to ensure that companies handling minerals from the DRC exercise due diligence on their suppliers.” As part of the Dodd-Frank Act, Congress created reporting requirements relating to conflict minerals originating in the DRC, thus enacting a historic and important provision that has created positive change in Eastern Congo. These advancements have been noted by many, including the UN Group of Experts who, in a June 2011 report, stated that “since its development in 2010, this United States legislation has proved an important catalyst for traceability and certification initiatives and due diligence implementation in the minerals sector regionally and internationally.”
Join us to learn more about this important issue, and to hear from actress and activist Robin Wright, as well as Fidel Bafilemba, a leader from Congolese civil society. Ms. Wright will share her experience and footage from her recent trip to Eastern Congo. She will also discuss new ideas for U.S. action to combat sexual violence associated with the trade in minerals. Mr. Bafilemba will share his opinions about the impact of conflict minerals on livelihoods in Eastern Congo, the need to eliminate the economic incentive that drives conflict in Eastern Congo and the importance of effective and timely implementation of the conflict minerals provision.
RSVP or contact Darren Fenwick for further information at [email protected].
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