Supplementary memorandum submitted by
Global Witness
After Global Witness' oral testimony on Tuesday
7 July, you mentioned that we could email key points that
we wanted to make, but could not because of a lack of time.
The key points that we would like to put forward
for the record include:
1. For the UK Government to issue warnings and
post advice to UK companies operating in conflict affected areas
with respect to human rights concerns prevalent in those areas.
2. For the UK Government to be proactive by engaging
in outreach and monitoring activities of UK companies operating
in conflict areas and provide advice and assistance to enable
those companies to operate whilst respecting human rights concerns
prevalent in those areas.
3. For the UK Government to sanction UK companies
found to be in violation of the OECD Guidelines or named in UN
report at the national level through mechanisms and techniques
reflecting the severity of the violations by public and private
companies including: blacklisting companies, withdrawing any/all
government support (eg insurance and other support from the ECGD)
, affect companies public procurement contracts, revoking a companies
license to operate, engage with the FSA to de-list a company from
the London Stock Exchange, engage with the World Bank and other
international institutions, etc…
4. For the UK Government to compel companies
to carry out due diligence to ensure that trade in natural resources
from conflict affected areas is legal and complies with international
human rights instruments. UK companies must be able to demonstrate
the precise location and date of the extraction and the identities
of all parties involved in extracting, handling and taxing the
materials. Companies must ensure that any materials that they
buy neither finance armed groups nor military units, nor involve
or contribute to human rights abuses at any point along the supply
chain.
5. For the UK Government to proactively monitor,
investigate and report UK companies identified in UN reports (egUN
Group of Expert and UN Panel of Expert reports).
6. For the UK Government to pass legislation
that criminalises UK companies for use of force violations using
the foreign provisions of the anti-corruption bill as a precedent.
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