The device you interact with – whether a smartphone, computer, or tablet – depends on a lithium-ion battery. This technological cornerstone is powered by cobalt, an abundant critical mineral in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Indeed, 70% of the world’s cobalt reserves are concentrated within the DRC. This fact comes with a heavy price: the widespread human rights abuses tied to cobalt mining, including child labor and forced labor.

The DRC’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector is at the core of this crisis, an informal part of the global economy that thrives on rudimentary tools, minimal oversight, and perilous working conditions. ASM is a double-edged sword. For countless Congolese living in extreme poverty, it is a vital lifeline, yet it also leaves them vulnerable to exploitation. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, over 25,000 children work in cobalt mines, while 78% of cobalt miners labor under coercive conditions.

ASM operations are essential to global cobalt supply, contributing nearly 30% of the DRC’s production. This is no small matter: cobalt is a cornerstone of lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles, smartphones, and countless other devices. Demand for cobalt is projected to rise exponentially in the coming years, and as it does, the exploitation in ASM is likely to grow unless action is taken.

The DRC’s ASM sector cannot simply be shut down; doing so would eliminate the livelihoods of millions. Nor can this problem be ignored, given the intertwined nature of global supply chains. In 2024, the United States allocated over $800 million in aid to the DRC, addressing critical areas such as healthcare, displacement assistance, and essential resources like food, water, and shelter. Yet, despite the scale of this assistance, no substantial measures have targeted the ASM sector or the endemic human rights violations it perpetuates.

The United States must take a leadership role in addressing these issues. Initiating an international effort through the United Nations to regulate ASM could serve as a catalyst for meaningful reform. By setting enforceable international standards, such an initiative could improve working conditions and significantly reduce the prevalence of forced labor and child labor in the DRC.

Regulations aimed at formalizing the ASM sector would help ensure safer working conditions while specifying who may legally participate in mining activities. These measures would reduce the ease with which vulnerable populations are exploited. Furthermore, such standards would empower the international community to hold states accountable for labor conditions within their borders. A multilateral approach led by the U.S. could galvanize other nations to contribute funding and political will to the cause.

Creating these standards would not require massive financial outlays. Organizing awareness campaigns, hosting international forums, and drafting global regulations would represent a modest investment for potentially transformative results. While some may argue that the UN lacks enforcement power, international norms significantly pressure non-compliant states. Moreover, they provide a framework for influential actors, such as the U.S., to use incentives or penalties to encourage compliance.

Time is of the essence. Establishing global norms for ASM will not only improve working conditions for the miners who extract this critical mineral but also reduce the prevalence of child and forced labor. Awareness campaigns can further amplify the urgency of this issue among governments and consumers alike, fostering the political momentum needed for action.

Cobalt’s central role in modern technology is undeniable, but its extraction must not come at the cost of human dignity. The United States and the global community have an ethical obligation to act. By creating and enforcing international standards for artisanal and small-scale mining, we can reduce exploitation, protect vulnerable populations, and ensure that ethical supply chains power the technologies of the future. It is time to reconcile progress with justice.