Addressing the Invisible Labour behind the Cobalt Industry
Monday, 15 April, 15:00 – 16:30 United Nations Headquarters, Conference Room 12
WCPUN is pleased to partner with the International Labour Organization, the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the University of Bath in presenting Cobalt Rush, a film by Roy Maconachie, and a panel discussion on how to improve the working conditions of the women and men who are the “invisible face” of the multi-billion-dollar cobalt industry, critical to electric vehicles and consumer electronics. The event is held in the margins of the first-ever UN General Assembly Sustainability Week, convened by the President of the General Assembly to advance Sustainable Development Goal 7 on affordable and sustainable energy for all.
Speakers: Ms. Cynthia Samuel-Olonjuwon, ILO Special Representative to the UN; H.E. Mr. Zenon Ngay Mukongo, Permanent Representative, Democratic Republic of the Congo to the UN; Ms. Cristina Duarte, Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor on Africa, UNOSAA; Mr. Roy Maconachie, Director, Cobalt Rush and Researcher, University of Bath; Mr. Casper Edmonds, Head, Manufacturing, Mining, and Energy Unit, ILO; Mr. Glen Mpufane, Mining Director, IndustriAll Global Union; Ms. Patricia Veringa Gieskes, Fédération des Entreprises du Congo, DRC; with closing remarks by Shamina de Gonzaga, Vice-President, WCPUN and Chief Editor, Centerpoint Now.