Italy

By Daniel Morris | 27. November 2017

IV. Government responses

Current Activities and Future Commitments [page 23]

B. Operational Principles

Supporting business respect for human rights in conflict-affected areas 

Guiding Principle 7 

Italy recognises the importance of respecting human rights especially in conflict-affected areas, whereas the promotion of human rights may yet represent a fundamental mean to guarantee peace and security.

On this basis, Italy can draw on best practices of awareness raising and training activities with regard to conflict minerals, and in particular the gold sector, in line with the OECD due diligence and relevant EU regulation. Furthermore, the Government is involved in the process of elaboration of a EU Regulation “setting up a Union system for supply chain due diligence self-certification of responsible importers of tin, tantalum and tungsten, their ores, and gold originating in conflict affected and high-risk areas” for a responsible trading strategy from minerals from conflict zones.

Planned Measures

  • Further promote the knowledge of the OECD due diligence guidance ‘Risk Awareness Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones’ and ‘Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas’, encouraging and supporting SMEs to follow as well this guidance tools;
  • Include human rights impact of economic activities in the programs and activities of awareness raising and capacity development aimed at the respect of human rights in conflict affected countries and high-risk area to be devised and implemented through specific programmes by the National Agency for International Cooperation;
  • Reinforce the action of the Italian Development Cooperation towards gender equality also by supporting women economic empowerment in post conflict countries, in line with the three pillars of the United Nations (peace and security, development, human rights) and the operational and normative framework developed within the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 “Women, Peace and Security”.