U S Government Accountability Office

Conflict minerals disclosure rule U S Government Accountability Office

" In eastern DRC, armed groups continue to commit severe human rights abuses and profit from exploitation of minerals and other trades. In 2010, Congress included a provision in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to address the trade of conflict minerals-tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold. Section 1502(b) of the act requires SEC to issue a disclosure rule for companies using these minerals in their products. The act also requires GAO to assess the rule's effectiveness and the rate of sexual violence in war-torn areas of DRC and neighboring countries. Since a rule has not been issued, this report examines (1) steps SEC has taken toward issuing a conflict minerals disclosure rule; and (2) stakeholder-developed initiatives that may help covered companies comply with the anticipated rule. This report also examines (3) any additional information available on the rate of sexual violence in eastern DRC and neighboring countries since GAO's 2011 report on that subject. GAO reviewed and analyzed reports and documents from SEC, other U. S. agencies, industry associations and other nongovernmental stakeholders; and interviewed representatives from those organizations. "