By Patricia Jurewicz, Director, Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN)
Conflict in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains one of the most salient humanitarian crises in the world, and minerals mined in the region continue to be used to illegally fund armed groups. Our third annual Mining the Disclosures report, released in November, evaluates companies’ efforts to implement due diligence and promote conflict-free mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In September, building off of learnings from the Conflict-Free Smelter Program, RSN launched its new initiative YESS: Yarn Ethically & Sustainably Sourced. Aimed to eradicate forced labor from the cotton, yarn, and textile industries, YESS will train and verify spinners on their due diligence efforts. Stay tuned for progress updates as this groundbreaking initiative is created and implemented!
