Join us at the African Business and Human Rights Forum for a Documentary Screening & Industry Expert Conversation on ASM, Child Labour and Responsible Business

Our session brings that question to the heart of the 5th African Business and Human Rights Forum through a screening of Child Labour in the Cobalt Mines of the Congo: The Dark Side of Electric Mobility, by award-winning Swiss filmmaker Cristina Karrer.

Filmed in Kolwezi, one of the world’s major cobalt-producing regions, the documentary offers a powerful and deeply human look at child labour, poverty and livelihoods in mining communities in the DRC. It challenges the easy narratives around responsible sourcing and asks what the global demand for cobalt means for the children, families and communities at the very bottom of the supply chain.

Following the 30-minute screening, Cristina Karrer will join business and civil society experts for a candid conversation about what the film and its themes mean for companies operating in complex, high-risk supply chains. The discussion, moderated by The Centre, will explore where corporate responsibility begins and how far it extends, what responsible engagement with mining communities can look like, and how businesses can address child labour and support better livelihoods without simply walking away from difficult sourcing contexts.

The conversation will also examine a bigger question: can the green transition truly be called “just” if the children and communities supplying its critical minerals are left behind?

The session will conclude with an audience Q&A, giving participants the opportunity to challenge assumptions, share perspectives and consider what meaningful action could look like for business, governments, civil society and communities.

Time and date:

• Thurs, October 1, 2016 | Day 3 | 13:00 - 14:20

What to expect

• A documentary screening offering an unfiltered perspective on child labour and livelihoods in cobalt-producing communities.

• A candid discussion with business, civil society and the filmmaker on the realities behind critical mineral supply chains.

• Practical perspectives on responsible engagement, including child labour prevention and remediation in high-risk sourcing regions.

• A critical conversation on corporate responsibility several tiers down complex supply chains.

• A debate on what a genuinely just transition requires for children, young people and mining-dependent communities.

Confirmed speakers:

• Mark Robertson, Senior Vice President, The Centre for Child Rights and Business (Moderator)

• Cristina Karrer, Award-winning Swiss filmmaker

• Edouard Swana, Community Relations Manager, Tenke Fungurume Mining (TFM)

(More speakers to be confirmed soon.)

Don’t miss this opportunity to see the realities behind the green transition, hear directly from those working closest to the issues, and join a conversation about what responsible business engagement can mean in practice.