Press Releases

Press releases and resources for journalists from Global Witness. For general media enquiries please call + 44 (0) 7912 517 127 or email [email protected]. For enquiries about our EU campaigns please contact +32 487 80 31 61.

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| June 15, 2005
Liberia: Uncontrolled Liberian resource exploitation and manipulation by Charles Taylor continue to threaten peace in West Africa

A report released on 15 June 2005 by Global Witness (1) titled 'Timber, Taylor, Soldier, Spy' details how uncontrolled exploitation of Liberia’s natural resources, structural violence and interference by former Liberian president Charles Taylor are undermining peace in West Africa.
| June 7, 2005
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Five years on: diamond trade still at risk from conflict diamonds

Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada press release
| June 6, 2005
Liberia: Will Bush and Blair finally take action against indicted war criminal and former US military intelligence asset Charles Taylor?

The UK, the US and Nigeria are stalling efforts to extradite indicted war criminal and former Liberian president Charles Taylor from Nigeria to the Special Court for Sierra Leone, which has charged him with a range of 17 war crimes and crimes against humanity (1).
| March 22, 2005
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Liberian timber industry and sanctions busting under international scrutiny

Global Witness (1) welcomes the action by the Dutch authorities to target suspected Liberian sanctions violations, following the arrest and charging of Dutch national Gus Kouwenhoven on Monday 21 March 2005. Kouwenhoven has been charged with breaking the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) imposed arms embargo on Liberia, and is suspected of being linked with war crimes according to the Dutch prosecutorial authorities.
| March 21, 2005
- Responsible Minerals
- Forests
The G8 in 2005: priorities for action on illegal logging

The G8 in 2005: priorities for action on illegal logging
| March 18, 2005
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Open Statement to the Security Council details the critical need for the maintenance of sanctions on Liberian diamonds and renewal and extension of the mandate of MONUC

On 31st March the UN Security Council will meet to renew the mandate of the UN mission in Congo (MONUC). Global Witness (1) calls on the UNSC to expand MONUC’s mandate to ensure they can take action to stop the continuing and devastating links between natural resource exploitation and conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which continues to threaten regional stability.
| March 10, 2005
Commission for Africa report offers opportunity to address corruption and impunity in Africa

The long-awaited Commission for Africa report released tomorrow identifies poor governance, corruption, opaque business practices, and lack of political accountability as among the major challenges to Africa’s future prosperity. The report calls for the international community to help Africa to: * trace and seize the assets stolen by corrupt leaders; * promote measures to make such theft more difficult in the first place;
| March 4, 2005
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Groups Call on Jewellery Industry to Combat Conflict Diamonds and Dirty Gold

London and Washington, DC: Today, Oxfam America, EARTHWORKS, and Global Witness are calling on jewellers to provide consumers with meaningful guarantees that the jewellery they buy is not tarnished with human rights abuses, environmental destruction, or conflict. The global jewellery industry is holding its annual meeting in Hong Kong from 3-6 March 2005. Organized by the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO), the meeting’s theme this year is “Maintaining Consumer Confidence.”
| Dec. 23, 2004
- Responsible Minerals
Global Witness Press Release: Liberia sanctions renewal

Liberia: While the UN Security Council correctly maintains sanctions on Liberian timber and diamonds, much work remains to ensure Liberia’s natural resources no longer fuel conflict. 23 December 2004
| Dec. 8, 2004
- Responsible Minerals
Liberia: UN Security Council threatens to amend sanctions on Liberian timber and diamonds, undermining peace in the region and further punishing war-torn Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire.

A briefing document released today by Global Witness(1) highlights the many links still remaining between Liberia’s timber and diamond industries and regional instability, and concludes that lifting or otherwise weakening sanctions on Liberia will undermine peace and security in Liberia and neighbouring countries(2).

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