Global Witness - Breaking the links between natural resources, conflict and corruption
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El Proyecto de Observación Independiente en Apoyo de la Aplicación de la Ley Forestal en Camerún fue implementado por Global Witness entre 2000 y 2005, bajo una serie de contratos y términos de referencia específicos. Estas páginas proporcionan un archivo histórico de nuestros 123 informes de misiones de campo y nuestros tres informes recopilatorios. La estructura de la siguiente fase del proyecto, implementado desde 2005, presenta una serie de amenazas a la independencia del Observador, razón por la cual Global Witness decidió no presentarse al concurso convocado al respecto convocado por la UE.
El proyecto comenzó cuando el Departamento para el Desarrollo Internacional del Reino Unido (DFID) invitó a Global Witness a llevar a cabo dos misiones de viabilidad en julio y octubre de 2000, con el objetivo de identificar la naturaleza y alcance de la ilegalidad en el sector forestal de Camerún, así como evaluar la necesidad de un proyecto de MFI a tiempo completo en el país.
Ambas misiones confirmaron la existencia de actividades ilegales generalizadas llevadas a cabo por varias empresas madereras líderes en Camerún, así como de elevados niveles de corrupción dentro de la autoridad forestal del país. Más aún, las misiones demostraron que un trabajo de monitoreo de campo efectivo y profesional resultó en información sobre crímenes forestales que podían emplearse para iniciar procesos legales contra los infractores, enviando con ello un desincentivo importante a los operadores ilegales, hasta entonces despreocupados de recibir ningún tipo de castigo. Posteriormente, Global Witness fue nombrado Observador Independiente en Apoyo de la Aplicación de la Ley Forestal en mayo de 2001 por un período de transición de seis meses, con apoyo financiero del Banco Mundial, DFID y la UE. Tras este plazo, se extendió su trabajo por otros seis meses en febrero de 2002. Durante esta época, el Ministerio del Ambiente y de Bosques (MINEF) y los donantes acordaron que el Observador Independiente debería ser nombrado a través de un concurso, y en mayo de 2002 Global Witness y MINEF firmaron un contrato renovable cada dos meses hasta que dicho concurso internacional fuera ofertado. Global Witness operó bajo esta forma hasta finales de marzo de 2005.
Al final de esta fase de proyecto, Global Witness y otros actores llevaron a cabo un proceso de reflexión crítica sobre el trabajo. Los resultados del mismo se encuentran resumidos en nuestros logros, lecciones y recomendaciones.
Latest Publications
March 2010
New evidence confirms oil revenue transparency still eludes Sudan
Large discrepancies persist between the oil production data published by the government of Sudan and those published by the main Chinese oil company operating in the country, Global Witness said today, six months after the publication of its report which first exposed the gaps.
Environmental groups call on French shipping company Delmas to cancel shipment of precious wood from Madagascar
Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) today called on French shipping company Delmas to cancel a shipment to China of hundreds of tons of rosewood from the port of Vohémar, in northeastern Madagascar. The campaign groups accuse the company of facilitating the destruction of Madagascar’s last remaining forests caused by vast illegal logging of rosewood.
Open letter to Delmas shipping company raises concerns over rosewood shipments from Madagascar
An open letter from Global Witness and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) to Delmas shipping company expressing grave concerns at its involvement in the transport of timber from Madagascar which has been declared illicit by the Malagasy authorities. The groups accuse Delmas of facilitaitng the destruction Madagascar's remaining rosewood forests through illegal logging.
Link between Angolan president's son-in-law and state oil company raises questions about transparency
The son-in-law of the Angolan president has been nominated to the board of a holding company that owns a third of the Portuguese oil firm Galp Energia, which has investments in Angola. The nomination was made by the State oil company, Sonangol, which is responsible for managing Angola's oil on behalf of its citizens. This arrangement raises concerns about conflicts of interest to which Sonangol has not responded.
DR Congo: ex-rebels take over mineral trade extortion racket
Former rebels from the Congrès national pour la défense du peuple (CNDP) have established mafia-style extortion rackets covering some of the most lucrative tin and tantalum mining areas in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Global Witness reported today following four weeks of research in the region.
Global Witness concerned at choice of new Ukraine energy minister
Global Witness is concerned that Yuri Boyko, a controversial figure from the murky past of Ukraine’s gas industry, has been put back in effective charge of a key gas supply route from Russia to the European Union.
Landmark oil and mining transparency initiative faces credibility test as key deadline passes
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a pioneering initiative to bring more openness to the world's oil and mining industries, faces a major credibility test after 20 out of 22 countries failed to meet a key deadline today.
Global Witness urges Cambodia’s donors to condemn sponsorship of military units by private businesses
Aid donors to Cambodia, including the US, EU, Japan, China and the World Bank, should send a strong message to the government that they will not countenance the bankrolling of Cambodia’s military by private businesses. This call follows the announcement last week by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen of the formation of 42 official partnerships between private businesses and Cambodian military units.
February 2010
A near miss? Lessons learnt from the allocation of mining licences in the Gola Forest Reserve in Sierra Leone
Between 2005 and 2007, two mining licences were issued in the Gola Forest Reserve in Sierra Leone, even though the area was a proposed national park. This new report identifies weaknesses in Sierra Leone's natural resource governance and attempts to draw lessons for the future.
Parliamentary committee report on libel, privacy and press freedom not strong enough to defend public interest reporting
A report on press standards, privacy and libel makes broadly sensible recommendations but does not go far enough to allay fears that England's laws are a barrier to public-interest campaigning.
Campaigners criticise proposals to define palm oil plantations as forests
The Ecosystems Climate Alliance today criticised the EU and Indonesia for attempting to reclassify palm oil plantations as forests, saying this would be a step backwards in efforts to halt climate change though preventing deforestation.
28 countries accused of facilitating money laundering … but key offenders missing
An international financial crime watchdog has named and shamed countries that are failing to stop dirty money entering the financial system, a move welcomed by Global Witness. However, conspicuously absent are major financial centres and secrecy jurisdictions, many of which also have serious weaknesses in their anti-money laundering regulations.
