Minerals from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are essential for advancing digitalisation and the green transition – areas where Swedish companies lead the way. However, their extraction and trade, crucial for batteries and advanced technology, are often linked to serious human rights violations, such as sexual violence and forced labour.
This highlights the importance for a responsible business sector to drive sustainable and peaceful development, both in the DRC and globally. With EU directives requiring companies to ensure ethical value chains, cross-sector collaboration, sustainable investments, and technological innovations offer pathways to achieving this.
Friends of Panzi Hospital and FUF invite you to a discussion on the vital role of businesses in fostering a responsible mining industry that promotes peace and sustainability in the DRC. Key questions include: How can we address power imbalances between multinational corporations and weak states to ensure fair resource benefits? How can cross-sector collaboration drive innovation and sustainability while reducing exploitation risks? And how can regulations like CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive) strengthen resource management and contribute to peace?
Led by Swedish journalist and host Malou von Sivers, we are honored to present an esteemed panel of speakers that includes Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege, founder of The Panzi Hospital in Eastern Congo. For a quarter of a century Dr Mukwege has tirelessly supported victims of violence while highlighting the link between abuses and the mining industry, advocating for change.
The panelists:
- Dr. Denis Mukwege Founder of Panzi Hospital and Nobel Peace Prize laureate
- Staffan Lindberg Awarded journalist, Aftonbladet
- Henric Råsbrant Ambassador of Sweden to DRC 2019-2024
- Eric Kajemba Director, Observatoire Gouvernance et Paix
- Nyamko Sabuni CEO, Sabuni & Partners
- Henrik Hallgren, Director Operations Sustainability in Mining, International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR)
- Alice Blondel Director, Swedwatch
- Joakim Wohlfeil Diakonia’s representative in the European Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM)
We welcome you to stay and mingle after the seminar.
Register [HERE] by latest January 19. Please ensure you bring valid identification to the seminar. Without it, you will not be permitted to enter.
During the event there will be opportunities to contribute financially to the running costs of the Panzi Hospital. Grateful for your contributions to Swish 9006974 or Plusgiro 900697-4.
