WGA/6/7
Sponsored by Jonathan Wisong, Charlie Hardy, Dylan Johnson, Adrianne Gott of Davidson Academy
The delegates above represented the Delegation of Rwanda.
This legislation was filed in the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural category
Presented as part of the MUN B 2023 conference
| 1 | Acknowledging the widespread and disastrous environmental, economic, and social effects of |
| 2 | coltan exploitation in the Great Lakes Region (GLR). |
| 3 | |
| 4 | Clarifying that the GLR refers to the area encompassing the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| 5 | (DRC), Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | Defining coltan, short for columbite-tantalite, as a dull metallic ore, categorized as a strategic |
| 8 | mineral by the DRC, which when refined, becomes a heat resistant powder often used by |
| 9 | internationally recognized megacorporations in creating many universal contemporary electronics. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | Emphasizing that as of 2020, the annual global production of coltan was shown to be 2.3 kilotons, |
| 12 | worth around 1,504.81 million United States Dollar (USD), and that between 2021 and 2026, the |
| 13 | global coltan trade is expected to grow about 6% annually. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | Estimating that as of 2021, the GLR produced a total of about 1000 tons of coltan, which is 45% of |
| 16 | the global production, worth around 677 million USD. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Approximating that there are 350 coltan mines in the GLR, with 40,000 total coltan miners, about |
| 19 | 80% of both in the DRC. |
| 20 | |
| 21 | Fully aware that the current minimum wage for workers in the DRC is 7,075 Congolese Francs |
| 22 | (CDF) per day, equivalent to 2.83 USD, the standard working hours 45 per week, and the |
| 23 | minimum age requirement to work 18. |
| 24 | |
| 25 | Stating that any environmental damage caused by the mines is required to be repaired by the |
| 26 | holder of the mine, under penalty of DRC law. |
| 27 | |
| 28 | Identifying that according to DRC mining law, the breakage of any of the previously mentioned |
| 29 | regulations could result in the denial of property, or prison time between a month and a year, or |
| 30 | fines between $5,000 and $10,000. |
| 31 | |
| 32 | Attesting that the other countries in the GLR have similar conditions and penalties to the DRC. |
| 33 | |
| 34 | Declaring that the DRC currently employs 200 labor inspectors, which is not nearly sufficient for all |
| 35 | |
| 36 | Establishing coltan exploitation as the illegal production and transportation of coltan, correlating |
| 37 | with noncompliance regarding the regulations stated earlier, and characterized by an increase in |
| 38 | counterfeiting, smuggling, and corruption. |
| 39 | |
| 40 | Noting that this exploitation often results in humanitarian abuses to the workers and their families, |
| 41 | shown through a lack of safety conditions, causing a multitude of work-related deaths, as well as |
| 42 | insufficient pay to support themselves or their families |
| 43 | |
| 44 | Further noting that ignoring the regulations in place causes severe damage to the environment, in |
| 45 | the form of deforestation, air and water pollution, the dumping of toxic waste, and the eradication |
| 46 | of biodiversity within ecosystems. |
| 47 | |
| 48 | Asserting that the countries within the GLR condemn this coltan exploitation, but currently are not |
| 49 | in an economically sufficient position to handle the situation appropriately. |
| 50 | |
| 51 | Bringing to attention the correlation between the illegal production of coltan and the smuggling of |
| 52 | coltan across the borders of the countries in the GLR, in order to eventually export the product |
| 53 | internationally. |
| 54 | |
| 55 | Bearing in mind that Rwanda was named the world's biggest exporter of Coltan in 2014, exporting |
| 56 | 28% of the global supply, with over 90% of which coming from mines within the DRC. |
| 57 | |
| 58 | Conscious of Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which declares the |
| 59 | right to just and favorable conditions of work, as well as Human Rights Council Resolution 48/13 |
| 60 | which affirms the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. |
| 61 | |
| 62 | Expressing that the current exploitation of coltan within the GLR violates the guidelines set forth in |
| 63 | Article 23 of the UDHR, and Resolution 48/13. |
| 64 | |
| 65 | Accrediting the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) with the task of |
| 66 | strengthening the industrial sector within member states worldwide, especially concerning Least |
| 67 | Developed Countries (LDCs), using environmentally and socially sustainable methods. |
| 68 | |
| 69 | Specifying LDCs as countries that have low levels of income and face severe structural |
| 70 | impediments to sustainable development, and noting that all the countries within the GLR are |
| 71 | classified as such. |
| 72 | |
| 73 | Recognizing that despite DRC mining codes, over 40,000 of the 200,000 total miners in the |
| 74 | country are children, currently working illegally within the mines, amidst life-threatening |
| 75 | conditions, and resulting in a partial or non-existent education for many. |
| 76 | |
| 77 | Further noting that around 2000 miners in the DRC are dying a year, due to the poor safety |
| 78 | regulations causing caveins, malnutrition, and coming into contact with toxic chemicals causing |
| 79 | terminal health issues. |
| 80 | |
| 81 | Appreciating that in addition to humanitarian effects, the DRC has lost 8.6% of its tree cover since |
| 82 | 2000, much of which is caused by mining. |
| 83 | |
| 84 | Recalling how the United Nations has already attempted to address some of the illegal coltan |
| 85 | production and transportation issues in the GLR through the United Nations Organization |
| 86 | Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO), via policing efforts within the mining sites and |
| 87 | potential smuggling routes across borders, although these efforts were largely unsuccessful, due |
| 88 | to a lack of resources. |
| 89 | Proclaims that the money from the UN to pay the laborers will only be in effect for 3 years; |
| 90 | |
| 91 | Further proclaims that these programs will go into effect on January 1, 2025; |
| 92 | |
| 93 | Calls upon the UN to understand how great of an impact this bill will have on Greece and other |
| 94 | countries that may face clean water scarcity in the future. |
| 95 | |
| 96 |