Foreign Trade: Minerals
(asked on 23rd June 2015) - View Source
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of the trade in minerals from conflict regions on (a) violence, (b) violence against women and children and (c) displacement of peoples from those regions.
This question was answered on 29th June 2015
The presence of mineral resources is one of a number of complex factors which can contribute to instability. The trade in minerals can also be a vital economic resource for conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The challenge is to ensure supply chains are properly managed to address the risk of funding armed conflict, widespread violence or other forms of harm to people, such as their displacement. Women and girls are often disproportionately affected by conflict, and we promote the protection of women in conflict and their participation in conflict resolution processes through the implementation of the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
The presence of mineral resources is one of a number of complex factors which can contribute to instability. The trade in minerals can also be a vital economic resource for conflict-affected and high-risk areas. The challenge is to ensure supply chains are properly managed to address the risk of funding armed conflict, widespread violence or other forms of harm to people, such as their displacement. Women and girls are often disproportionately affected by conflict, and we promote the protection of women in conflict and their participation in conflict resolution processes through the implementation of the UK National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.