Upcoming Conference

The Exploitation of Natural Resources in Zones of Conflicts:
International responsibilities and Prospects for Solutions in the DR Congo
Date: April 2nd, 2004
Location: Universit� du Qu�bec � Montr�al, Room N-M510
Organized by: Groupe de recherche sur les activit�s mini�res en Afrique (GRAMA) in collaboration with the Table de concentration sur les droits humains au Congo/Kinshasa

The conference will bring together decision makers, stakeholders from the public and private sectors and researchers in an effort to permit the sharing of different perspectives during a day of reflection devoted to certain implications of the exploitation of natural resources in zones of conflict. More specifically, the conference will provide the occasion to deepen our understanding of the situation in the DRC which in the present context raises an important number of unanswered questions.

The object of this meeting is to create an arena for exchange among different actors involved with a view of encouraging the emergence of concrete solutions concerning the conditions under which extractive industries may be in a position to contribute to sustainable development and poverty reduction.

The conference will be of particular interest to those responsible for the drawing up and implementation of policies in various relevant departments and levels of government in Canada, to the directors of mining companies, to researchers, to students, to representatives of organisations devoted to international cooperation and to all those interested in the question of corporate social responsibility in Canada and at the international level.

Among the speakers confirmed : Patricia Feeney (Rights and Accountability in Development, U.K), Erik Kennes (Researcher, Belgium), Heiko Nitzschke(International Peace Academy, New York), Jim Freedman (Former member of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Exploitation of Natural Resources and other Types of Wealth in Democratic Republic of the Congo which reported to the Security Council), Georgette Gagnon (Lawyer specialised in corporate self-regulation in conflict zones and its implications for human rights and Canadian public policy, Toronto).

Simultaneous translation (English and French) will be available during the conference.

The official programme will be available shortly on the web site of GRAMA: http://www.unites.uqam.ca/grama/

For INFORMATION and REGISTRATION please contact Suzie Boulanger, Coordinator of GRAMA [email protected] or by telephone (514) 987.3000 #2462