European Parliament adopts far-reaching resolution to protect children in mica mines

20 February 2020

The European Parliament recently passed a resolution that its deep concern about the large numbers of child workers in Madagascar mica mines and the violations of these children’s rights.

read the full resolution(opens in new window)

The resolution calls on the European Commission and member states to actively work to promote mandatory human rights due diligence within the WTO and the United Nations (binding treaty on business and human rights). Furthermore, it asks the Commission to assess the possibility of including minerals such as mica in the Conflict Minerals Regulation that will come into effect in January 2021. It also calls on the Madagascar authorities and mining companies to take their responsibility to uphold the rights of children and guarantee their safety and integrity.

Child labour in Madagascar’s mica sector

In the closing statement by the European Commissioner Helena Dalli, she referred to SOMO’s report Child labour in Madagascar’s mica sector that was commissioned by Terre des Hommes.(opens in new window)