Sustainable Livelihoods in Southern Mongolia

(a) Declaration of policy It is the policy of the United States to support the right of Southern Mongolians to make decisions in accordance with principles of autonomy regarding their economic development, including the ability to maintain traditional livelihoods, such as pastoralism, as well as cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and resource extraction, in areas designated as autonomous for Southern Mongolians in the People’s Republic of China. (b) International financial institutions The Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the United States executive director of each international financial institution to use the voice and vote of the United States to support financing of projects in areas designated as autonomous for Mongolians in the People’s Republic of China if such projects do not provide incentives for the migration and settlement of non-Mongolians into Southern Mongolian areas or facilitate the transfer of ownership of Southern Mongolian land and natural resources to non-Mongolians, are based on a thorough needs-assessment, foster self-sufficiency of the Southern Mongolian people, respect Mongolian culture, traditions, and traditional livelihoods, and are subject to effective monitoring. (c) Private sector investment The Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce, should encourage United States businesses and individuals that are engaged in commerce or investing in enterprises in areas designated as autonomous for Mongolians in the People’s Republic of China to be guided by the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including the creation, in consultation with other relevant Departments, of a business advisory covering such areas, with particular focus on the mining and extractive industries sector, that provides strict guidelines not to directly or indirectly contribute to the violation of the human rights of local Mongolians, harm to their communities, or destruction of the natural environment and traditional Mongolian way of life.