ARTICLE 4

ARTICLE 4

WE HAVE A RIGHT TO BE FREE FROM SLAVERY

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

.1. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.2. No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

Slavery in the coltan mines

WHAT IS COLTAN?

Coltan, short for "columbite-tantalite," is a mineral that contains both niobium and tantalum, metals used in the production of electronic components. These metals are crucial for making capacitors in electronic devices, which store energy. Coltan is mostly found in central Africa, particularly in the DRC, which holds one of the largest known reserves.

The Issue of Forced Labor

In the DRC and neighboring countries, coltan mining is often done in informal, unregulated mines. Many miners, including children, are subjected to dangerous and grueling conditions. The mining process is labor-intensive and typically occurs in remote regions, far from government oversight.Miners are often forced to work under extreme conditions, enduring long hours, inadequate food, and unsafe environments. Many are paid very little, and some are even trafficked into these mines, essentially trapped in a cycle of slavery. They are vulnerable to violence, abuse, and exploitation by armed groups who control the mines.

The Global Impact

Coltan is a critical resource in modern technology, but the human cost is staggering. As demand for electronics grows, the conditions in these mines become even more desperate. The widespread use of coltan in smartphones, laptops, and other devices means that consumers in developed countries unknowingly contribute to the demand for conflict minerals and forced labor.

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Here you can put aprominent title

Pose a dramatic question; it's the essential ingredient to maintain audience attention. It's usually subtly posed at the beginning of the story to intrigue the audience and is resolved at the end.

Here you can put aprominent title

Pose a dramatic question; it's the essential ingredient to maintain audience attention. It's usually subtly posed at the beginning of the story to intrigue the audience and is resolved at the end.