Paris Peace Forum 2025 | Minerals, Governance and Conflicts Side-Events

On the eve of the 8th edition of the Paris Peace Forum, the OECD, Global Witness, and the United Nations Department of Peace Operations have organized a series of partner-led sessions. Key stakeholders gathered to explore how global and local actors can ensure that the accelerating demand for minerals drives justice, peace, and sustainability rather than conflict or exploitation. These sessions kicked off with a keynote speach from Fabienne Hara, Deputy Director of the Paris Peace Forum, Secretariat of the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals.

The first session highlighted the opportunities for better governance of minerals in the current state of multilateralism, including through the United Nations, the G20 and other fora - featuring Council Members Bruno Oberle and Ma Jun and Special Advisor Emily Iona Stewart. It then dived into community impacts in resource-rich developing economies, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and explore reintegration pathways for ex-combatants in responsible artisanal and small-scale mines. The sessions concluded with a discussion on the connection between responsible investments and mineral supply chain resilience, featuring Special Advisor Louis Maréchal. Together, they charted a path toward equitable, transparent, and sustainable mineral governance worldwide.

Governing the Global Mineral Rush: Building a Just Transition through the UN, G20, and Beyond

As the global race for transition minerals accelerates, the G20 under Brazil’s presidency has placed inequality and sustainability at the centre of its agenda. Combined with the UN Secretary-General’s recent panel recommendations and forthcoming G7 and UN climate negotiations, the world is at a crossroads: will multilateralism create fair, sustainable governance of these resources, or will unchecked competition deepen harms to communities, ecosystems, and the climate? This event, organized by Global Witness and key partners, will examine whether a new global order around transition minerals is possible, one that prioritizes justice, community consent, and environmental integrity.

Speakers: Emily Iona Stewart, Head of policy and EU relations, Transition Minerals, Global Witness, Bruno Oberle, Co-Chair of the Global Council for Responsible Transition Minerals & President of the World Resources Forum & Council Member, Ma Jun, Director of the Institute of Environmental and Public Affairs (IPE) & Council Member, Luc Tezenas, Head of Policy and Advocacy, Resource Justice Network

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Geopolitics, Communities, and the Future of the DRC’s Minerals. Balancing global demand with local realities to prevent conflict and build peace.

While international competition for mineral resources intensifies, Congolese communities remain excluded from decision-making, burdened with insecurity, and vulnerable to exploitation. This panel, organized by Global Witness and key partners, will examine how geopolitical dynamics intersect with local realities in the DRC, exploring how governance, transparency, and accountability mechanisms can prevent conflict and ensure that mineral wealth benefits people rather than fueling instability.

Speakers: Guillaume de Brier, Researcher, IPIS, Martina Mattarazzo, International Advocacy Coordinator, Resource Matters, Alex Kopp, Senior Campaigner, Global Witness, Josaphat Musamba, Doctoral researcher, Conflict and Development Studies, Ghent University

The last two sessions have not been made public.