tackle key challenges on conflict minerals, in particular · pdf filetiffany richardson...

1

November 4, 2015

Thomas Perriello

U.S. Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa

U.S. Department of State

2201 C Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20520

Dear Special Envoy Perriello:

As student leaders from campuses across the United States and abroad who advocate to help end the

conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, we would like to formally congratulate you on your

appointment. We appreciate your commitment to ensuring that the responsibilities of this incredibly

important position remain a priority for the U. S. government as we maintain our commitment to

supporting your efforts to contribute to peace in Congo and the Great Lakes region.

As the Special Envoy to the region, you are best positioned to build on the progress made by your

predecessor and forge ahead on additional peace initiatives. We recognize the conflict in Congo is

complex and are therefore working at the campus level to implement effective policies and bolster your

efforts.

Through the Conflict-Free Campus Initiative – a joint initiative of the Enough Project and STAND – we

work with university administrators, student governments, and our local communities to enact measures

that pressure electronics companies and other relevant industries to help end the conflict minerals trade

and responsibly invest in Congo’s minerals sector. So far, 19 universities, colleges, and high schools have

passed resolutions to this effect, and students from more than 175 schools across the United States,

Canada, and the United Kingdom have participated in the campaign. Our goal is to bring attention to the

consumer link between conflict minerals and the financing of armed groups in Congo, while also

advocating for additional reforms that will benefit Congolese communities.

As engaged student leaders committed to seeing an end to the crisis, we ask that you take a strong and

deliberate stance on the following issues:

1. Tackle key challenges on conflict minerals, in particular conflict gold and miners’ livelihoods.

In recent years, there have been significant improvements in the transparency of corporate supply

chains as well as a major reduction in the number of tin, tungsten, and tantalum mines controlled by

armed groups in eastern Congo. However, much more must be done to address the conflict gold trade

and to support Congolese mining communities that have been negatively affected by the changing

economic landscape. To that end, the United States must provide more robust support for conflict-free

projects and livelihoods programs for mining communities in Congo.

2. Ensure the United States takes real steps to hold accountable the leaders and businesses most

responsible for mass corruption and violence in Congo. This includes implementing targeted

sanctions and prosecutions against corrupt officials and illicit financial networks that aid armed

groups.

2

3. Make sure women’s and other civil society voices are heard in high-level peace efforts and hold

accountable leaders who block democracy. Congo enters a critical period as elections planned for

late 2016 approach and President Kabila ramps up efforts to remain in power, despite constitutional

requirements that he must step down. The months prior to the elections are potentially a very

dangerous period for communities across Congo. In cooperation with regional and international

stakeholders, the United States must prepare to take a strong stand to ensure Congo’s elections are

held on time and are free and fair. Additionally, high-level peace talks in Congo and the region will

not be sustainable without the meaningful inclusion of civil society, especially women.

As student leaders, our goals are clear: help end the deadly trade in conflict minerals, encourage

responsible, conflict-free investment in Congo, and support peace. Achieving these goals will only be

possible if leaders like you continue to actively support key, Congolese-led reforms.

We thank you for the fresh perspective and excitement you bring to this position, and are eager to work

alongside you.

Signed,

Jordan Abbey

Rochester Institute of Technology

David Goldberg

SUNY Buffalo

Diane Ogede

Boston University

Michelle Abou-Rood

Boston University

Ellie Goldman

Boston University

Chiamaka Ohaim

Boston University

Matthew Abrahamsen

Claremont McKenna College

Jessica Goldstein

Brandeis University

Hailey O'Hair

Georgetown College

Mikaela Adams

Georgetown College

Juan Carlos Gonzalez-Ramirez

Illinois College

Lushonda Okoli

UW-Milwaukee

Marina Addario

University of Central Florida

Davin Goodman


Victoria Olakojo

Boston University

M. Huzaifah Adnan


Matthew Graef

Illinois College

Taylor Orlando

Boston University

Thierry Adrien


Paige Graham

Illinois College

Timothy O'Shea

Middleton High School

Aditya Advani


Lexey Grapentine


Lola Oyelola

Boston University

Laura Aguilera

SUNY Buffalo

Grace Graunke

Illinois College

Kush Pakki


Masa Akari

Illinois College

Romeo Gray

Boston University

Bidemi Palmer

Boston University

3

Raji Akileh


Nathaniel Groh

Illinois College

Brett Palmer

Illinois College

Kelly Alcius


Mahad Gudal

Boston University

Van Par

Illinois College

Ellie Aldous


Mauricio Guerra


Sophia Patroulis Lessig

SUNY Buffalo

Emily Altman

Georgetown College

Evelyn Guerrero

Lewis & Clark College

Richard Patti

SUNY Buffalo

Arria Alton


Morgane Guex

SUNY Buffalo

Leilani Pecher

Illinois College

Nchedolisa Anammah

Boston University

Juan Gutierrez


Peter San Pedro


Seth Anderson


Fanita Gutt


Larissa Peltola


Uchenna Ani

Illinois College

Espoire Habimana

Illinois College

Emily Pennington

Georgetown College

Vishaalkrishna Anuraagavikannan


Lea Hall

Illinois College

Yasin Perez

SUNY Buffalo

Greta Appleton

Boston University

Jessie Hall

Southern Methodist University

Arnaldo Perez


Rachel Arceneaux

Illinois College

Anya Hall


Juan Perez


Margaux Arntson


Meadow Hardy

Illinois College

Brielle Perlingieri


Christian Arps

Community College of RI

Phillip Harper

Daytona State College

Anthony Pesare


Jenna Astroth

Illinois College

Amelia Harris

Georgetown College

Jenia Petrova


David Atilano


Katy Harvey

Georgetown College

Andrew Petschke

SUNY Buffalo

Thomas Atkins


Maheen Hasan


Madison Pfaff

Illinois College

Abigail Atteberry

Georgetown College

Rick Hassan


Giulliette Pfeiffer

Boston University

4

Adam Ausmus

Illinois College

Betsy Hathaway


Madeline Pflasterer-Jennerjohn


Shania Bacon

Illinois College

Quinton Tyler Hausermann


Lindsey Phillips

Georgetown College

Dyllan Bailey

Illinois College

Sundy He


Austin Phillips

Illinois College

Katie Baker

Georgetown College

Ashlyn Henderson

Illinois College

Peirce Phillips


Tyler Barley


Jack Herder


Troy Pierre-Louis


Steve Barone


Cheyenne Herring

Illinois College

Kalani Pihana

Central Methodist University

Danielle Barrett

Georgetown College

Sydney Herring


Antonia Pillot

Illinois College

Micaela Bates

Georgetown College

Brad Herrmann

Illinois College

Jane Piselli

Antioch University New England

Austin Beard

Illinois College

Alyssa Herzing

Illinois College

Fabio Pizarrovictoria


Britteny Beck

Illinois College

Susannah Heuer

Georgetown College

Brody Pogue

Illinois College

Benhamin Beecroft


Georgia Hidi


Brianna Pohlman

Illinois College

Erica Behrens

University of Southern California

Sierra Higginson

Illinois College

Siuan Poirteir

University of Glasgow

Madelaine Behrens


James Hills

Illinois College

Anna Porter

SUNY Buffalo

Queentela Benjamin

Boston University

Ronald Hoagland

Illinois College

Aidan Powell

SUNY Buffalo

Madison Benson

Illinois College

Chris Hodge


Bhanu Prakash


Hanna Bergkoetter

Illinois College

Erin Hodgson

Illinois College

Kaitlyn Prehoda

Illinois College

Nicole Bergschneider

Illinois College

Luke Hoffman

SUNY Buffalo

Marcus Price

Georgetown College

5

Brant Bess

Illinois College

Autumn Holley

Georgetown College

Zachary Price


Blair Betik


Ben Hollingsworth


Katie Prizer

Illinois College

Haleigh Bevins

Georgetown College

Michael Holtz

Boston University

Mayra Quintana

Illinois College

Emily Beyer


Rose Horky


Bryce Raaymakers


Lakhan Bhojwani


Allison Horowitz

Boston University

Sethuraman Ramanatha


Risha Bhukhan


Meghan Hoskins


Henry Randall

Illinois College

Alanna Billups

Boston University

Payton Houden


Allison Rascon


Ryan Black


Ryan Hudson


Nithin Reddy


Sabina Bloom


Av'ry Hughes

Boston University

Darius Redmond

Illinois College

Arthur Borden-Heilman


Yasmina Hussien

Georgetown College

Miriam Reed

Illinois College

Allie Bowe

Georgetown College

Tanya Ifft

Illinois College

Nick Remsik


Cedric Bowen


Faridat Illupeju

Boston University

Michael Repole

SUNY Buffalo

Alexa Bracci

SUNY Buffalo

Rachel M. Irons

Daytona State College

Zoilt Resendiz

Illinois College

Ellen Bresnick


Jennifer Jennings

Illinois College

Madison Rever

Illinois College

Kolby Briggs

Illinois College

Mi Jeon


Caroline Richards

Georgetown College

Joshua Brooks

Illinois College

Jack Jeskey


Blake Richardson

Illinois College

Jason Brown


Jacqui Johns

Georgetown College

Tiffany Richardson


6

Zech Brown


Allison Johnson


Anthony Rios Rochester

Institute of Technology

Christopher Brown


Rylee Joiner

Georgetown College

Joseph Ritter

Illinois College

Ciara Brown


Bethany Jones

Georgetown College

Jacob Roberts

Georgetown College

Ruth Brown


Jack Jones

Illinois College

Pedro Rodriguez

Boston University

Hunter Bryant

Illinois College

Walter Jones

Illinois College

Gabriela Rodriguez


Katy Buhlig

Illinois College

Rochelle Jordan


John Rogers


Emily Bunch

Georgetown College

Kristine Natividad Jubilag


Alison Rogers

SUNY Buffalo

Elexus Buntley


Benie Kalala

Illinois College

Erin Ross


Day Buquer

Illinois College

Claire Kaufmann

Illinois College

Mengfei Ru

Illinois College

Tiffany Burgess

Illinois College

Kai Kellerman


Zoe Rudloff

SUNY Buffalo

Brendan Busch


Elizabeth Kelley

Illinois College

Devon Rusinek

SUNY Buffalo

Bo Buschon

Illinois College

Izzy Kennedy

Illinois College

Tierra Russell

Illinois College

Christopher Butrym

Bryant University

Kristiana Kenney


Kate Ruston


Catherine Cadang

UC Davis

Dalton Kerans

Illinois College

Emily Salcedo

Boston University

Zachary Calman

University of Texas at Dallas

Samantha Keys


Kari Sandage


Brittany Calvanelli


Uma Khan

SUNY Buffalo

Marissa Sandgren


Vanessa Cardenas

Illinois College

David Khaydatov

SUNY Buffalo

Surabhi Sarda


7

Shelby Carey

Illinois College

Kesey Kieker


Amanda Schartau


Sally Kim

Boston University

Simi Seerha


Hailee Scheper

Georgetown College

Seohyun Kim


Viviana Sepulveda


Nisarg Shah


Lexi Carpenter

Georgetown College

Franklin Kimmell

Illinois College

Julia Shankle


Dalton Carrington

Illinois College

Brianna Klein

Illinois College

Omar Shazley


Nathan Castle


Maxwell Klein

Illinois College

Andrew Sheehan

SUNY Buffalo

Allen Chang


Gabe Knott

Illinois College

Michael Shereda

Illinois College

Isabel Chavez


Arnelle Kodjo

Boston University

Jose Sierra

Illinois College

Jovanna Chavez

Illinois College

Shelby Koehler

Illinois College

Dustin Simpson

Illinois College

Rachel Cheatham

Georgetown College

Andy Koltun

UNC-Chapel Hill

Thomas Siskar

SUNY Buffalo

Danny Cheng


Kevin Kozuchowsky


Leigh Slyker

SUNY Buffalo

Kristen Wingyan Cheung


Andrew Kramer


Jackson Smith


Prasad Chitnis


Harrison Kremitzki

Illinois College

Elizabeth Smith

Georgetown College

Caitlin Choberka

SUNY Buffalo

Natalie Kuo


Marcus Smith

Illinois College

Towhid Chowdhury


Seun Kuye

Boston University

Nick Smith

Illinois College

Emily Clarke

Boston University

Katie Kuznia

Illinois College

Adam Smith

Illinois College

Carson Clarke-Magrab


Andreas Kyrvasilis


Titus Smith


8

Rachel Clayton

Illinois College

Alexander LaFleur


Dillon Smith

SUNY Buffalo

Demetrius Cobb

Illinois College

Brian Landy


Haley Snyder

Georgetown College

Haley Coble

Illinois College

Brandon Lao


Shafer Soars

Illinois College

Zachary Colclasure

Illinois College

Blake Lapin


Melissa Solorio

Illinois College

Anthony Collichio

Boston University

Macie LaRose


Kelsey Sommer

SUNY Buffalo

Christina Collier


Erica Larson

Illinois College

Abhav Soni

Glacier Creek Middle School

Emily Collinson

American University

Morgan Larson


Sael Soni


Adam Jamal Colucci


Andrew Law

Illinois College

Alima Sore

Boston University

Robert Cooper

Illinois College

TJ Lawal

Illinois College

Nicole Southard


Samuel Cooper


Aubri Layson

Georgetown College

Katie Speaks

Illinois College

Emily Corbridge

Illinois College

Niccolo Lazzara


Mary Stalter


Robert Francisco Cordero


Matthew Leiferman


Brendan Stanfield

Illinois College

Sarah Cox


Mallory Lennon


Bobby Stark

Illinois College

Ethan Crain

Illinois College

Jack Levin


Hunter Statz


Jennifer Crentsil

Illinois College

Dan Lewis

Illinois College

Ceciline Steyn

McGill University

Eryn Cummings

Georgetown College

Andrew Lindeborg

The George Washington

University

Christopher Stillwell


9

Madalyn Cunningham

Georgetown College

Sarah Loehle

SUNY Buffalo

Graham Leonard Strauss

The University of Scranton

Madison Dagitz


Bryan Lopez


Jasmyn Streater


Katherine Daifotis


Lornex Loreen

Boston University

Emma Stuhmer

Illinois College

Bianca Dam

SUNY Buffalo

Kaitlyn Lotito

SUNY Buffalo

Carter Sturtevant

Illinois College

Apurwa Dandekar


Averie Lozano

Georgetown College

Ryan Sung


Luke Davis

Illinois College

Andy Lu


Anne-Emmanuelle Sunther

Illinois College

Terranika Davis

Illinois College

Hannah Lucas

SUNY Buffalo

Sri Sure

UNC-Chapel Hill

Neil Davis

UNC-Chapel Hill

Courtney Lyons

Georgetown College

Adnan Syed


Jackie Day


Lindy Magness

Wheaton College

Alison Szukala


Drew Degler


Pratit Mahale


Shereen Tajalli


Mary Deis


Mady Maio


Negin Taleb

Boston University

Luke Delaney


June Mangan

Illinois College

Courtney Tarr

Illinois College

Mikayla Dennison

Georgetown College

Stephanie Manuel

Georgetown College

Johnathan Taylor

Illinois College

Juliana Diatezua

Boston University

Shannon Manuel

Georgetown College

Alex Tejada


Luz Diaz


Chelsea Ann Marcano


Brandon Terry

Illinois College

Jane Dimnwaobi

Boston University

Blake Marcy

Illinois College

Kevin Thomas

Purdue University

Mary Doane

Saint Michael's College

Toby Margolin


Shruthi Thomas

SUNY Buffalo

10

Kapil Dole


Branden Martin


Lorraine Thompson

Illinois College

Colton Donica


Marissa Masnica


Keena Tolentino


Jenna Dresner

University Of Southern California

John Matherly

Georgetown College

Ryan Torrance

Illinois College

Lauren D'Souza


Kayla Matthews

Illinois College

Jennifer Torres


Dianne DuBois


Alyssa McElyea

Illinois College

Arturo Torres

SUNY Buffalo

Hollis Dudgeon

Georgetown College

Madi McEwen

SUNY Buffalo

Maria Tovar


Payton Dugan

Illinois College

Tess McHale

SUNY Buffalo

Will Trabold


Katie-Lauren Dunbar


Savannah McInvale


Jordan Trafton


Cody Dunn


Aaron Mckinney


Jennifer Trapani


Jessica Duque

Boston University

Colleen McMahon


Emmanuel Tshimoa

Illinois College

Vela Dyrness


Jacob McNamara

Illinois College

Hannah Turk

Illinois College

Emily Eader

Georgetown College

Allison McNamara

Illinois College

Claire Ufongene

Boston University

Zineb El Bardai

Boston University

Allie McRaith


Ogechi Uju-eke

Illinois College

Tyler Ellis

Georgetown College

Haley Mettendorf

Illinois College

Teresa Umoren

Illinois College

Sarah Engle


Roger Mies

Illinois College

Zachary Untracht


Ntekereze Enock


Hannah Milhouse

Illinois College

Daniel Uvaydov

SUNY Buffalo

Thomas Ermon

Illinois College

Johnathan Miller

Illinois College

Vivian Vaisman

SUNY Buffalo

11

Valerie Escudero

Illinois College

Seth Daniel Miller


Adam Valdman

Metea Valley High School

Stephanie Esonwune

Boston University

Greg Miller


Kevin Vande Vusse


Karina Espinosa

Illinois College

Evelyn Mittler


Breanna VanMatre

Illinois College

Jayne Evans

Boston University

Neville Mogent


Lauren VanValkenburg

Boston University

Emily Evans

Georgetown College

Melanie Moises


Quinton Wadkins

Illinois College

Mikayla Fayo

SUNY Buffalo

Brandon Mojica


Tyler Walker


Madison Featherstone

SUNY Buffalo

Doug Mollett

Georgetown College

Courtney Walsh


Adam Ferguson


Bruno Moraes


Corie Walsh

UNC-Chapel Hill

Jordan Fesshie

Boston University

Ambar Morales

Iowa State University

Elaine Wang


Kayla Finstein


Myles Moran


Lerandy Warren

Illinois College

Gabi Fisher

Illinois College

Vinay More


Samuel Welbourne

Illinois College

Cristian Flores

Illinois College

Jonathan Morgan

Georgetown College

Lauren Wetzel


Courtney Florin


Evan Mori


Kevin White

SUNY Buffalo

Alexis Foster

Illinois College

Declan Mulkerin


Hanna Whited

Georgetown College

Michael Foust


Remy Mullen


Shanna Wiegand


Tyese Fraser

Boston University

Paul Muniz

Illinois College

Kristen Wiley

Illinois College

Kandace Fung

Claremont Mckenna College

Jovanny Nava

Illinois College

Denae Wilkins

Boston University

12

Mitchell Ganta


Christopher Nelzy


Britanni Willard

Illinois College

Michael Garcia

Illinois College

Nadya Netchva

Boston University

Perry Winkler

Illinois College

Brendhan Garland

Illinois College

Alymiyahou Ngala

Illinois College

Amanda Wood

Illinois College

Ethan Garry


Michael Niederbrach

Illinois College

Savannah Wooten

UNC-Chapel Hill

Tullio Geraci


Alexandra Heidtmann Nobre


Elias Wright

Illinois College

Cristine Joy Gilbert


Trevor Noel

Marshall University

Susie Wu

Syracuse University

Brady Gilliam

UNC-Chapel Hill

Lisa Noggle

Illinois College

Amina Wynn

Illinois College

Rohit Giyanani


Colette Norris

Illinois College

Noah Yantis

Illinois College

Rory Glackin


Mark Norris

UW-Madison

Hanaan Yazdi

Boston University

Maggie Go


Anna N'Semi


Arelys Zamora

UF College of Medicine

Jose Goday

Boston University

Erick Ntekereze


Gloria (Zhihan) Zhao


Brittney Godfrey


Jacob Nunez

Illinois College

Natalya Zianora

McGill University

Biobele Gogo-Peters

Illinois College

Kamara Nwosu

Boston University

Nathan Zimmerman

Illinois College

Liang Goh


Naomi Odelibe

Boston University

Jake Zuena


Kaley Goiz


Diane Ogede

Boston University

tackle key challenges on conflict minerals, in particular · pdf filetiffany richardson...

Documents