What is the problem?
Demand for minerals found in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo and used in everyday electronics products help finance armed groups who engage in violent struggle. The minerals in question are cassiterite (tin ore), gold, coltan [tantalum] and wolframite (a source of tungsten).
What would the Congo Conflict Minerals Act of 2009 (S.891) do?
If passed, this bill would provide the authority and direction for the United States government to help ensure that the mineral trade stops contributing to human rights violations, including killings of unarmed civilians and sexual violence, while at the same time developing mechanisms to allow the Congolese people to benefit from these resources. The bill demands greater transparency and accountability from all companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges - including major electronics companies which are among the largest end-buyers of some of these minerals would have to disclose the origin of their supplies to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. For those minerals coming from Congo or neighboring countries, companies would need to disclose the precise mine of origin. Although the bill does not include a requirement that companies submit independent audits of their supply chains, it is a valuable first step toward greater transparency.
What can I do?
Call or write your Senators and urge them to cosponsor the Congo
Conflict Minerals Act of 2009. Send an email to your Senator. Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and
ask for your senators' offices.
How are Presbyterians engaged with our sisters and brothers in the Democratic Republic of Congo?
Presbyterians have been involved in ministry with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo for over a century. William Sheppard, an early Presbyterian mission co-worker, is remembered for his advocacy on behalf of the Congolese people as he publicly spoke out against the abuses against the people as the Belgian King Leopold I pursued the region's rubber.
The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program provides prayers for the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Presbyterian Women Palm Project is a new mission program in which groups or individuals can make donations for the establishment of palm plantations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Presbyterians support health and development ministries in the country. The Congo Mission Network is a grass-roots organization sponsored by the Presbyterian Church, (U.S.A) that seeks to partner with the Presbyterian Church in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Presbyterian Church of Kinshasa to help the Congolese people improve their lives.
This posting draws heavily on the work of the Presbyterian Washington Office.
MJPC blames the Congolese Government for the Deteriorating Situation in East Congo(DRC)
"There is no excuse for missing to pay salaries to soldiers in lawless eastern Congo for six months"
Following the deteriorating situation in east Congo, the MJPC called today for the Congolese Government to urgently pay the salaries to thousands of soldiers who have not been paid for over six months in eastern Congo, take swift action to enforce the International Criminal Court's (ICC) warrant against Bosco Ntaganda and to hold accountable perpetrators of sexual violence against women for their acts.
"Failing to hold accountable individuals who commit war crimes and crimes against humunity continues to be the leading cause of widespread and systematic sexual violence acts against girls and women in the easten Congo" said Makuba Sekombo, Community Affairs Director of the Mobilization for Justice and Peace in the DR Congo (MJPC).
Mr. Sekombo again criticized the government of Congo for not only the continuing failure to protect women and young girls from sexual violence, but also for "encouraging conditions that create opportunities for sexual violence to occur". "There is no excuse for missing to pay salaries to soldiers in the lawless eastern Congo for six months" said Sekombo. The MJPC has also renewed its call for the Congolese government to take urgent needed action to end human rights abuses in east Congo, hold perpetrators accountable and ensure reparation for the victims of sexual violence.
The MJPC has been urging the Congolese government to compensate the victims of sexual violence in order to also help combat impunity in eastern part of Congo where sexual violence against women and children has been widely used as weapon of war for more than decade. The MJPC online petition calling for help to put pressure on Congolese Government to compensate victims of sexual siolence in Eastern DRC can be signed at http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/26180.html
About MJPC
MJPC works to add a voice in advocating for justice and peace in the DRC particulary in the east of DRC where thousands innocent civilian including children and women continue to suffer massive human rights violations while armed groups responsible for these crimes go unpunished
For more information about the MJPC and its activities, visit http://www.mjpcongo.org. or call Makuba Sekombo @ 1-408-8063-644 or e-mail: info@mjpcongo.org. The online petition calling on the Congolese Government to put urgently in place a comprehensive program of compensation for the victims of sexual violence in eastern Congo can be signed at http://www.gopetition.com.au/online/26180.html
Posted by: Paul T | July 02, 2009 at 10:45 PM