NGOs criticize LBMA’s gold sourcing program International regulations have succeeded in limiting the export of conflict minerals, but illegally mined minerals continue to support warlords in in certain areas of the world. ( Image courtesy of Fairphone.) Advocacy group Global Witness along with four other civil society organizations said today that the London Bullion Market Association’s (LBMA) responsible sourcing program has failed to ensure that only responsibly-sourced gold, conflict-free and untainted by human rights abuses is traded worldwide. “We had hoped that September’s release of the LBMA’s first annual Responsible Sourcing Report 2020 would address these concerns,” the organization wrote in an open letter to the LBMA on March 8. “We welcome the report, which provides more detail than previous publications.”