February 22, 2012

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Today: Separating Mining from Violence in the DR Congo

Join us for Separating Mining from Violence in the DR Congo: A Closer Look at Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act with Raymond Gilpin, Ph.D., on Wednesday, February 22, at 7 p.m. in the Jardine Room.

Violent competition over access to strategic minerals has been linked to persistent instability in north-eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Known as the rape capital of the world, thousands have been killed and thousands more injured or displaced as armed groups have fought over the mining, trade and export of tin ores, on which the multi-billion dollar global electronics industry depends. The U. S. Congress passed a law in July 2010 requiring all US-registered companies to certify the origin of their tin ore purchases in order to discourage trade in ‘conflict minerals.’  Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act has since received mixed reviews. Gilpin will provide a critical analysis of the law by exploring the political economy of the conflict. He will also offer a set of recommendations for building peace.

Raymond Gilpin directs the United States Institue of Peace’s Center for Sustainable Economies (CSE), one of the Institute’s Centers of Innovation. He leads the Institute’s work on analyzing relationships among economic actors during all stages of conflict (including prevention, mediation, resolution and post-conflict). He teaches the Economics and Conflict course at the USIP Academy and manages the Web-based International Network for Economics and Conflict.

Gilpin holds a doctorate from Cambridge University in Economics and an Executive Certificate in International Finance and Capital Markets from Georgetown University.