While the world celebrates technological progress in electric vehicles and renewable energy, a grave humanitarian crisis continues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The country’s rich reserves of cobalt — a critical mineral for lithium-ion batteries and medical-grade chemicals — come at an unbearable human cost. Western industries, particularly tech and pharmaceutical giants, rely heavily on this resource, yet their supply chains often exploit some of the most vulnerable people: children.

In mining regions across the DRC, thousands of children as young as six toil in dangerous and toxic conditions. Armed with nothing but crude tools, they spend hours digging through unstable pits filled with harmful dust, which exposes them to long-term health risks such as respiratory diseases. Despite laws prohibiting child labor in mining, economic desperation forces many families to send their children to work, often for less than five dollars a day.

The exploitation of these children mirrors conditions akin to modern slavery. Mining operations often lack safety measures, and many children face coercion and abuse at the hands of local armed forces and corrupt mining officials. Families are frequently displaced as mining companies bulldoze entire villages, leaving them with no option but to work in hazardous conditions to survive.

Western corporations, including tech giants like Tesla, Apple, and Microsoft, have faced criticism for failing to ensure ethical cobalt sourcing. Despite their public commitments to sustainability and human rights, these companies benefit indirectly from exploitative practices deep within their supply chains. A 2024 lawsuit, which sought to hold these corporations accountable for child labor, was dismissed on the grounds that they were buyers, not producers, of cobalt.

The injustice is profound, as consumers in wealthier nations enjoy cutting-edge technologies, Congolese children are stripped of their education, health, and dignity. Advocacy groups like Amnesty International and the Fair Cobalt Alliance continue to push for transparency and reforms to ensure that no child is forced to suffer for the sake of innovation.

True progress requires more than just technological advancements — it demands ethical responsibility. Companies must prioritize humane sourcing practices, while consumers should demand greater accountability from the brands they support. The exploitation of children in the DRC cannot be the hidden cost of the modern world’s obsession with progress. Ending this cycle of injustice begins with awareness, advocacy, and action.