Make ICT Fair project

The University collaborated with ten partners across Europe on an EU-funded project entitled ‘Make ICT Fair – Reforming Manufacture and Minerals Supply Chains through Policy, Finance and Public Procurement’ from November 2017 to January 2021.

Project aim

This project aimed to improve the lives of workers and those impacted along different stages of the ICT supply chain through research, campaigning, capacity building and advocacy. It built on the University’s affiliation to Electronics Watch, which carries out worker-based monitoring of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) factories on behalf of public sector members.

Make ICT Fair overview website

University of Edinburgh output: Human rights risks in the ICT supply chain

Project partners

• Swedwatch (Sweden)
• Suedwind (Austria)
• CATAPA (Belgium)
• CEE Bankwatch Network (Central and Eastern Europe)
• Electronics Watch (Europe-wide)
• People & Planet (UK)
• SETEM Catalunya (Catalunya)
• Le Monde Diplomatic (Poland)
• ICLEI (Europe-wide)
• Towards Sustainability Association (Hungary)
• The University of Edinburgh (UK)

Research

The School of Social Political Science, in collaboration with the Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability, carried out research on labour, community, environmental and legal issues in electronics manufacturing, and collaborated with Swedwatch, CATAPA and CEE Bankwatch Network who researched similar issues in mining. The team is worked to map ICT supply chains, carry out field research in sites of mining and manufacture, and develop recommendation reports and policy briefings, as well as academic papers.

Human rights risks in the ICT supply chain

A collection of articles by Make ICT Fair, published 2021.

Green technologies for people and planet

An article from CATAPA and War on Want, published January 2021.

Circular fair smartphones - Joint Statement of Demand

The statement is supported by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, Electronics Watch and the Procura+ European Sustainable Procurement Network, published in January 2021.

Hazardous chemicals in ICT manufacturing and the impacts on female workers in the Philippines

A Swedwatch investigation, published in January 2021, supported by Make ICT Fair.

Linking the Bolivian Minerals to the European Industry

Project partners were Make ICT Fair, CATAPA and Oblaten - Solidaridad Nación Uru (SNU). Published in November 2020.

Occupational poisoning in ICT manufacturing

A Swedwatch investigation, published in June 2020, supported by Make ICT Fair.

Towards a fairer ICT supply chain

A CATAPA and SNU investigation, published in May 2020, supported by Make ICT Fair.

Devices draining the desert: lithium mining in Chile

A Danwatch investigation, published in December 2019, supported by Make ICT Fair.

Forced labour behind your screen

A Danwatch investigation, published in June 2019, supported by Make ICT Fair.

The link between employment conditions and suicide: a study of the electronics sector in China

This report is the product of the combined efforts of the Economic Rights Institute and Electronics Watch, published in November 2018.

The Rivers are Bleeding: British mining in Latin America

This report is by War on Want and was co-financed by CATAPA, published in October 2018.

Living Under Risk: Copper, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Human Rights in Chile

Report by Sebastian Smart with support from CATAPA and War on Want, published in January 2019.

Assessing the social impacts of the preparatory and development phases at Lydian International’s Amulsar mine in Armenia through surveys of neighbouring communities

Report by Community Mutual Assistance Social NGO, on behalf of Bankwatch.

Biodiversity offsetting and other problems of the ESIA of Amulsar gold project in Armenia

Report by Balkani Wildlife Society, Bulgaria, on behalf of Bankwatch.

Copper with a cost – Human rights and environmental risks in the minerals supply chains of ICT: A case study from Zambia

Report by Linda Scott Jakobsson for Swedwatch, published 6 May 2019.

Disclaimer: This project is organised with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this web page is the sole responsibility of the University of Edinburgh and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

Some of the research reports shared on this website have been produced by the University of Edinburgh's partners on the EU-funded Make ICT Fair project. These reports do not reflect the views of the University of Edinburgh, and any queries regarding their content should be addressed to the authors identified within each report.