Impact on children of illicit exploitation of natural resources in conflict zones

The illicit exploitation of natural resources, in particular diamonds, gold, columbite-tantalite (coltan) and timber, in zones of conflict, has a direct and significant bearing on children. This practice of plunder is deliberately robbing children of their birthright to education, healthcare and development. They are exploited as cheap labour and forced to work in unhealthy and dangerous conditions. Moreover, this has become a principal means of fuelling and prolonging conflicts in which children suffer the most.

Actions by the Security Council, which have included the application and monitoring of sanctions in Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia, and mandated investigations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, have made a notable impact. The application of further targeted measures by the Security Council would reinforce their impact.

The independent panels of experts established by the Security Council to investigate violations of these sanctions found that diamonds played a uniquely important role in perpetuating the conflict in Angola, and discovered in Liberia a strong link between the continued trading in conflict diamonds and trafficking in small arms by both the Government and the rebel groups.