Stop Child Labour in Supply Chains
Children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) inhale toxic dust as they mine the cobalt that powers the batteries we rely on for our phones, tablets and laptops. Yet global electronics manufacturers won’t tell us if their cobalt supply chains are tainted by child labour. They have a responsibility to do so –to check for and address child labour in their supply chains, setting an example for the rest of the industry to follow. Electric vehicle companies also need to ensure that their car batteries do not contain cobalt mined by children.
TAKE ACTION
- Put a "Warning: May contain child labour" sticker on your phone, laptop or tablet. Order stickers here.
- If you belong to an Amnesty community group, you can host a public screening of the film "When Elephants Fight", a powerful documentary that explores the connection between mining in the DRC and the electronics industry. Contact us for more information.
- Subscribe to receive Amnesty Canada's Business and Human Rights e-newsletter.
LEARN MORE
- Watch our new interactive video.
- Watch this short video (1.5 minutes) or long video (8 minutes)
- Watch Amnesty interviewed on CBC News.
- Read Amnesty's full report "This is what we die for: Human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo power the global trade in cobalt" (Jan 2016).
- Read our cobalt progress report "Time to recharge: corporate action and inaction to tackle abuses in the cobalt supply chain" (Nov 2017).
BLOG POSTS AND PUBLIC STATEMENTS
Microsoft moves on child labour claims. Nov 30, 2018
Electric car companies still powering human rights abuses. Nov 30, 2018
What is Microsoft not telling us? May 26, 2018
Phones, electric cars and human rights abuses - 5 things you need to know. May 1, 2018
Amnesty pushes for victims' rights at OECD minerals forum. Apr 17, 2018
DRC: Government crackdown on child labour must address root causes. March 2, 2018
Industry giants fail to tackle child labour allegations in cobalt battery supply chains. Nov 15, 2017
The dark side of electric cars: Exploitative labour practices. Sept 19, 2017
Child labourers must not pay the price for UK's shift to electric vehicles. July 26, 2017
Progress in campaign for responsible mining of cobalt. Nov 25, 2016
Investigation launched after Amnesty cobalt child labour claims. Nov 23, 2016
Child labour: Not in my phone. Oct 28, 2016
Electric cars: Running on child labour? Sep 30, 2016
Exposed: Child labour behind smart phone and electric car batteries. January 18, 2016
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