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Share Hans Merket, a researcher with the International Peace Information Service (IPIS), says he didn’t go into Tanzania expecting to learn about people getting hurt and killed. His group simply wanted to measure how mines were viewed by surrounding communities. But when they got to Mwadui, the area around the Williamson diamond mine, he kept hearing how mine security forces had taken violent action against purported trespassers on the mine area. There were reports of people being shot, stabbed, beaten, locked up, and killed. “We really stumbled on these abuses,” he says. “We usually ...

Petra's $6m Human Rights Settlement May 13, 21 by Petra Diamonds announced yesterday that it had agreed a $6m settlement over alleged human rights breaches at its Williamson mine, in Tanzania. The UK-listed miner made no admission of liability, but its own investigation concluded that the security teams it employed to protect the sprawling of 30km2 kimberlite resource from illegal miners had been responsible for some deaths a nd many injuries. A sub-committee of independent Petra non-executive directors carried out its own investigation a nd found that "there were 12 confirmed deaths of i...

Launch of the UK’s independent anti-corruption sanctions regime is an important step forwards in tackling kleptocracy, says NGO coalition. “Today’s announcement is an important achievement in the fight against corruption globally. The UK anti-corruption coalition welcomes the new sanctions regime and hopes to see the UK announce bold and ambitious designations against corrupt actors to become a leading voice in the fight against kleptocracy. "The UK needs to make sure its own defences against corruption and money laundering are as robust as possible to give the regime maximum credibilit...

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 rel...

Taarifa Rwanda Published 3 weeks ago 1share On Tuesday Global Witness, along with four other advocacy groups said 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. The five organizations also called on the European Union (EU) not to endorse the LBMA, the world’s most influential gold market authority, which would make imports into country members troublesome. “We had hoped that September’s release of the LBMA’s first annu...