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Secretary Clinton: We Need a Credible Certification System for Congo's Minerals

Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem talks to Enough Co-Founder John Prendergast about the crisis for women and children in eastern Congo.

The need and momentum is growing for a credible international certification system to ensure that minerals in consumer electronics and other products are not fueling rape and violence in eastern Congo.

Ten years ago, a certification system addressing the trade in blood diamonds helped end wars in Sierra Leone and other West African countries. Similar systems have also led to significant progress in guaranteeing social and environmental standards through fair labor, forestry, and oil revenue transparency.

Now it’s Congo’s turn.

Call on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be a leader for certification now.

Read our Certification Activist Brief (PDF)

Dear Secretary Clinton:

The trade in Congo’s conflict minerals is one of the primary drivers of violence and instability in the region. Now is the time for the U.S. to be a leader in unifying efforts to create a legitimate mining sector that benefits the people of eastern Congo.

The momentum and responsibility derived from the passage of the conflict minerals provision of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform act last year requires further action and leadership from the Obama Administration.

Members of Congress, leaders of the private sector, and civil society groups are all taking action and agree that certification is a necessary next step to help stem the violence fueled by minerals in the DRC – and that the U.S. must play a leading role.

We call on you to convene a high-level meeting to bring together senior executives of end-user companies, industry groups, Congolese civil society, and regional political leaders to create a single, comprehensive international certification system. Your leadership is essential to driving consensus towards a transparent and credible process.

Sincerely,

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1-25 of 5889 signatures

Number	Date	Name	Tell us in your own words ...
5889	Tue Sep 20 09:06:32 EDT 2011	Steve Overton
5888	Tue Sep 20 00:23:28 EDT 2011	Anonymous
5887	Mon Sep 19 21:21:59 EDT 2011	Jennifer Cramer
5886	Mon Sep 19 20:56:33 EDT 2011	christine mcfadden
5885	Mon Sep 19 16:50:45 EDT 2011	Sarah Putt	I am from the UK and hope our country chooses to take the same action when it comes to providing hope in the Congo!
5884	Mon Sep 19 14:14:22 EDT 2011	Anonymous	Whether for convenience or necessity... new technology does not mean progress if it is dependent on or is the result of the persecution of anyone. This is an inhuman atrocity.
5883	Mon Sep 19 00:55:41 EDT 2011	Anonymous
5882	Sun Sep 18 20:41:09 EDT 2011	Jason Maghan
5881	Sun Sep 18 16:56:04 EDT 2011	stacey goeckeritz
5880	Sun Sep 18 16:07:52 EDT 2011	Anonymous
5879	Sun Sep 18 16:07:52 EDT 2011	Anonymous
5878	Sun Sep 18 16:04:55 EDT 2011	Randi Viggiano	This is an ongoing issue that we as humans MUST stand up against. The women of this nation need our support against the horrific violence they must deal with on a daily basis!
5877	Sun Sep 18 15:57:27 EDT 2011	Madeline Campbell	These atrocities must be stopped and as the largest economy in the world it is our responsibility to stop them.
5876	Sun Sep 18 15:44:18 EDT 2011	Natasha Mohr	There are so many things happening over which we have no control. This is something we can actually change. We have to. It is our human responsibility.
5875	Sun Sep 18 13:57:59 EDT 2011	Melissa Preiss
5874	Sun Sep 18 12:04:06 EDT 2011	Beth Saule
5873	Sun Sep 18 12:02:04 EDT 2011	Beth Saule
5872	Sun Sep 18 09:23:32 EDT 2011	Amanda Braga
5871	Sun Sep 18 07:42:22 EDT 2011	Laura Sa'o
5870	Sun Sep 18 07:10:17 EDT 2011	Anonymous	That this conflict and the suffering it causes has gone on for this long is unacceptable. I hope those in positions of power will rise to the occasion and take action to bring it to an end.
5869	Sun Sep 18 02:36:30 EDT 2011	David Diaz Tardón	We Need a Credible Certification System for Congo's Minerals.
5868	Sat Sep 17 21:10:41 EDT 2011	Rachel Savas	I don't like when people are at war
5867	Sat Sep 17 20:46:38 EDT 2011	Mireille Membele	I am a Congolese living in Australia and think it's criminal that rapes and killing of people are tolerated by the wholle civilized world!People are helpless and it's not right not to do anything about More....
5866	Sat Sep 17 15:29:44 EDT 2011	Alexandra Giacchino	The idea that there are human beings suffering for luxuries we take for granted is deeply disturbing. These victims are mothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters, all like our own. They are communities like More....
5865	Sat Sep 17 15:29:43 EDT 2011	Alexandra Giacchino	The idea that there are human beings suffering for luxuries we take for granted is deeply disturbing. These victims are mothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters, all like our own. They are communities like More....

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