Organised by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and Open Ownership (OO), and supported by the BHP Foundation, the Opening Extractives Global Beneficial Ownership Transparency Implementers’ Forum brought together implementing countries and beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) reformers from around the world. It took place in London and virtually on 8 September 2021, and was the official launch of Opening Extractives, OO’s collaborative programme with the EITI.
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Myanmar was suspended from the EITI in February 2021 due to political instability. At the time of the suspension, the EITI Board noted that the participation of all EITI office holders in the reform process, including civil society, was essential to ensure open debate.
In this context, we were deeply concerned to learn this week of the arrest of a civil society representative, who took part in the EITI multi-stakeholder group in Myanmar prior to the country’s suspension.
As Chair of the Board of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, I join regional and international leaders in condemning the military coup of 5th September in Guinea.
This military assumption of power in Guinea follows on similar developments elsewhere in the region. It has the potential to destabilise the region further and undermine progress in democratic and accountable governance there.
This week, governments, business and civil society will unite to take action on corruption in the extractive sector, demonstrating support and commitment for beneficial ownership transparency.Anonymous ownership of companies has been used to facilitate corruption across many sectors, including the extractive industries. Those in developing countries are hardest hit; Africa loses around GBP 88.6 billion in illicit capital flight every year, according to the United Nations.
The international EITI Board met on 30 June to consider a complaint raised by Publish What You Pay–United States (PWYP-US) – concerning the activities of an alternate Board member from the oil and gas sub-constituency of EITI supporting companies. Civil society representatives on the EITI Board issued the statement below on 9 July, to set out their position on the complaint.
The international EITI Board met on 30 June to consider a complaint raised by Publish What You Pay – United States (PWYP-US) concerning the activities of an alternate Board member from the oil and gas sub-constituency of EITI supporting companies.
Statement from Mark Robinson, EITI Executive Director
Amid continuing reports of military harassment and violence against civilians and civil society representatives in Myanmar, the EITI has been notified of the arrest of Man Zar Myay Mon, a member of the Subnational Coordination Unit (SNU) of the EITI in the Sagaing Region of Myanmar. The arrest is believed to have taken place on 8 June 2021.
The EITI today launched its flagship EITI Progress Report 2021, which describes how EITI implementation has been adapted and sustained amid the constraints posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The report highlights innovations in reporting by EITI implementing countries, as well as emerging practices in key areas including contract transparency, beneficial ownership transparency and corporate accountability.
I join leaders of ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, and the United States in expressing deep concern over the military coup of 25 May in Mali and the subsequent detention of President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane.
Together with continuing unrest in Chad, the events which unfolded in Mali last week have the potential to destabilise the country further and will have repercussions in the broader Sahel and Central African regions.
Indonesia published its latest EITI Report in March, adopting the flexible reporting measures introduced by the EITI Board in 2020. While the report mainly covers the 2018 fiscal year, it also documents the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on Indonesia’s extractive sector in 2020 – including its effects on production, exports and revenues – and highlights some of the government’s response measures.