ending impunity

The aim of the campaign is to end impunity for all entities involved in funding and facilitating natural resource wars and corruption. This will be achieved by bringing to an end the belief and reality that individuals, companies and governments are above the law.

The Ending Impunity campaign builds on work conducted by Global Witness over the last 10 years, by systematically exposing those individuals (including government members) and business entities that encourage and maintain debilitating corruption and violent conflict.

Working with current Global Witness campaigns, the Ending Impunity campaign aims to address the symptoms, causes and culture that enables impunity to exist in the areas of natural resources, conflict and corruption.

Tackling the issue of ending impunity demands a multifaceted approach. The campaign will seek to create a stronger sense of justice by holding individuals and companies accountable for breaking international laws. The Ending Impunity team will improve the political and legal "will" and empower those who are stymied by the lack of specific examples of what to do and how to tackle impunity.

The campaign aims to create a transparent and fair system of justice where transgressors are held accountable for their crimes.

There are four mechanisms that we will use to achieve our aims:

  • Casework - to facilitate and aid prosecutions that will create accountability for crimes involving the exploitation of natural resources, human rights abuses and corruption.
  • Advocacy - to encourage the enforcement of already existing laws and push for the creation of new laws
  • Outreach - to create a climate where it is no longer acceptable to continue this exploitation and abuse
  • Capacity building - to support, encourage and enable local action