The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact across the world on all aspects of life, especially among the marginalised, who are the most vulnerable people to this disease. We, the Jesuit Organizations and Jesuit Social Centers from all around the world that are part of the Justice in Mining Network, are very concerned about the impact of this crisis in the communities affected by mining in Africa, Latin America and Africa.

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The EU Regulation on the responsible supply of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (3TG) from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRA) is a crucial first step towards supply chains free from human rights abuse. The EU Regulation on the responsible supply of tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold (3TG) from conflict-affected and high-risk areas (CAHRA) was approved in 2017 and will enter into force in 2021.Before this date, the EU member states need to adopt measures to ensure the implementation of the Regulation. However, the first implementation measures being discussed by member states risk diluting the efficacy of the Regulation by concealing the list of companies subjected to it Civil society organizations across Europe are calling for transparency to ensure the due diligence is effective and human rights are protected.

The problem currently arising is that member states seem to be adopting a loose interpretation of the text of the Regulation and seem unwilling to publish the list of national companies that are subjected to the it. This will make it impossible for members of (national) parliaments, media, downstream industry and civil society groups both in Europe and in producing countries to monitor corporate behavior and to raise ‘substantiated concerns’, as provided for in art 11(2) of the Regulation.
At this crucial point civil society organizations in Europe are calling on their governments to make sure that their respective implementation measures include provisions for the publication of the list of national importers subject to the Regulation.

“Concealing the list of national importers would also create an uneven playing field amongst companies– monitoring would focus on companies that are already known to import 3TG, overlooking companies that are less well known.”, criticizes Gesine Ames from the Ecumenical Network for Central Africa.

“The non-publication of the list of national importers will make it near impossible for third parties to raise substantiated concerns.”, fears Giuseppe Cioffo from the European Network for Central Africa.

“Transparency is a fundamental requirement for effective due diligence. In view of the next member states expert meeting on the Regulation, we urge member states to ensure that the list of national importers subject to the Regulation is not only made available to competent authorities, but that it is also published annually.”, calls Cornelia Heydenreich from Germanwatch.

You can read the full JOINT DOCUMENT published by the civil society organizations here – ENG

Signed
1. ActionAid – The Netherlands (The Netherlands)
2. Africa – Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN – Madrid Antenna) (Spain)
3. Association of Ethical Shareholders (Germany)
4. Bread for the World / Brot für die Welt (Germany)
5. Christian Initiative Romero (Germany)
6. Commission Justice & Paix (Belgium)
7. Diakonia (Sweden)
8. DKA Austria – Hilfswerk der Katholischen Jungschar (Austria)
9. Ecumenical Network for Central Africa (Germany)
10. Eine Welt Zentrum Herne (Germany)
11. Entraide & Fraternité (Belgium)
12. European Network for Central Africa – EurAc
13. Fairtrade Lëtzebuerg (Luxembourg)
14. FOCSIV – Federazione degli Organismi Cristiani Servizio Internazionale Volontario (Italy)
15. Fondazione MAGIS (Italy)
16. Fundación Alboan (Spain)
17. GegenStrömung – Institut für Ökologie und Aktions-Ethnologie (INFOE e.V.) (Germany)
18. Germanwatch (Germany)
19. Good Shepherd International Foundation (Italy)
20. Justicia i Pau Barcelona (Spain)
21. Norwegian Church Aid (Norway)
22. PAX NL (The Netherlands)
23. PMU (Sweden)
24. PowerShift e.V. (Germany)
25. REDES – Red de Entidades para el Desarrollo Solidario (Spain)
26. Solidaritat Castelldefels Kasando (Spain)
27. SOMO (The Netherlands)
28. Swedwatch (Sweden)
29. WEED (Germany)

The city of Johannesburg, South Africa, hosted over 300 activists from around the world at the Thematic Social Forum on Mining and the Extractivist Economy from 12 to 15 November. Our ALBOAN colleagues, Alicia Alemán and Guillermo Otano, attended the event along with several other organisations from the Jesuit Justice in Mining advocacy network.

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From 12th till 15th november Johannesburg hosts the Thematic Social Forum on Mining and Extractivism. Two members of ALBOAN, Alicia and Guillermo, are there alonside our jesuit colleagues from Justice in Mining. Here you have their daily blog-post:

¡AMANDLA, A WETHU ! ¡Power, to the people!

Our first day in the Thematic Social Forum on Mining and Extractives Industries has started with this powerful cry for justice and dignity of the peoples. The approximately 300 delegates coming from all corners of the world have joined this powerful cry and the loud chants and dances of our South African hosts in the dark but cheerful building called the Music Factory here in Johannesburg.

The day has been intense, both intellectually and emotionally, for all of us representatives of the Justice in Mining. We have heard the struggles of peoples and communities affected by mining and extractives industries: their dreams, strategies, failures, disappointments and victories. The right to say NO is becoming a powerful demand, with its flipside the right to say yes. Yes to peace, community development, education, health and housing, among others. Yes to a just transition that takes into account the current inequalities among nations and within nations. And builds up on a new set of values, where care for our common home and the future generation should be at the center.

You can follow the development of the Thematic Social Forum on social networks using the hastag #TSFMining #TSFSA