UN chief calls for justice in natural resource value chains

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday called for justice in natural resource value chains.



"We must ensure mineral development delivers fair and sustainable outcomes for resource-endowed countries and communities," he said. "It is time to break the age-old pattern -- where resources are extracted, value is captured elsewhere, and impoverished communities are left behind to cope with the environmental and socioeconomic damage."



During a Security Council open debate on natural resources governance, Guterres said that it is also time to close the gap between a state's recognized sovereignty over its natural resources and its sovereign rights in practice, noting that nowhere is this sovereignty deficit wider than in Africa. "Countries and communities must benefit -- first and most -- from the resources in their own backyard," he said.



The UN chief stressed the importance of curbing illicit flows and strengthening transparency across mineral supply chains.