People around the world increasingly rely on rechargeable batteries to power their mobile phones, tablets, laptop computers and other portable electronic devices. A key component for lithium-ion rechargeable batteries is cobalt. More than half of the world’s total supply of cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Amnesty International and Afrewatch conducted research in the artisanal cobalt mines, documenting child labour and perilous working conditions which are in stark contrast with the glamorous shop displays and marketing of state of the art technologies. Amnesty International calls on the African Commission to seize this important time to take the following urgent action necessary to guarantee artisanal miners and children’s human rights in DRC.
