Rights groups refuse participation in unwarranted State Department conflict minerals consultation

Global Witness and Amnesty International have today published an open letter, highlighting their objections to the US State Department’s recent consultation on responsible mineral sourcing.

This consultation lacks clarity and transparency. While publicly billed as an effort to solicit comments on how the State Department can support efforts to ensure minerals do not fund abuses, the groups say this consultation is ultimately intended to inform a weaker substitute for the existing conflict minerals provision in Section 1502 of the Dodd Frank Act.

Carly Oboth, Policy Advisor for Global Witness said: “The State Department has been vague about the purpose and of this consultation, while it appears that some comments have been made public, we are concerned that private comments have been invited through channels other than the official e-mail address stated in the notice.

“The conflict minerals provision is a transparency law meant to bring light and scrutiny to a previously opaque and secretive trade, yet this consultation feels anything but transparent. This crucial issue for US companies, investors, and consumers deserves a public debate, not whispers intended to undermine existing law behind closed doors.”

Section 1502, and the accompanying Conflict Minerals Rule promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), aim to curb the proceeds of Congo’s mineral trade fueling conflict and abuses by requiring companies to conduct checks on their supply chains.

Following a reconsideration of the Conflict Minerals Rule by the SEC and reports of the President considering waiving the rule through executive action, this consultation is the latest in a string of unwarranted efforts to undermine the integrity of the law and Congressional intent. 

Oboth said: “Given our concerns with the underlying premise of this consultation, we are refusing to participate in this deeply flawed process. Through a series of backdoors and shortcuts the Trump administration is seeking to undermine the law of the land.”

While massive cuts to the State Department’s budget are being negotiated, the Department’s decision to initiate a new consultation despite a recent, public, and extensive comment period led by the SEC is puzzling.

Oboth said: “If the State Department wants to know what we all think about responsible mineral sourcing, it has an extensive catalogue of public comments at its disposal. It is far from clear what this latest consultation could add to what has already been said. Sometimes, when you don’t get the answer you want the first time, it’s tempting to ask again. But our views are clear and those at the bottom of mineral supply chains urgently need us all to do much more than talk." 

The Conflict Minerals Rule core idea is that companies’ profits shouldn’t be born out of suffering and abuses. While there are very real challenges that need to be addressed to ensure minerals are responsibly sourced, we must collectively do better and build on what has been achieved to date.

Oboth added: “Instead of focusing on enforcing the existing law and working to hold companies to the highest standard, the administration is choosing to engage in a façade of goodwill while working behind the scenes to undercut this vital legislation.”