IMPACT (Canadian organization)
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = IMPACT
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| formation = {{Start date|df=yes|1986||}}
| type = NGO
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| headquarters = Ottawa, Canada{{cite web |url=https://impacttransform.org/en/about-us/contact-us/ |title=Contact Us |publisher=IMPACT |access-date=13 October 2020}}
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| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Rolland Morier{{cite web |url=https://impacttransform.org/en/about-us/board-of-directors/ |title=Board of Directors |publisher=IMPAC |access-date=4 August 2013}}
| leader_title2 = Vice-President
| leader_name2 = Nicole Piggott
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| website = {{URL|https://impacttransform.org/en/}}
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IMPACT, formerly known as Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) until October 2017,{{Cite web |url=https://www.miningreview.com/international/partnership-africa-canada-changes-name-impact/ |title=Partnership Africa Canada changes name to IMPACT |last=van Vuuren |first=Richard Jansen |date=23 November 2017 |website=Mining Review Africa |publisher=Spintelligent (PTY) Ltd |access-date=8 October 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://impacttransform.org/en/partnership-africa-canada-pac-is-now-impact/ |title=Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) is now IMPACT |last=Danielski |first=Zuzia |date=5 October 2017 |website=impacttransform.org |publisher=IMPACT |access-date=13 October 2020}} is a non-governmental organization which attempts to control the sourcing of minerals in regions of conflict{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/03/26/ndp_introduces_bill_for_tighter_controls_on_use_of_conflict_minerals_in_cellphones_and_laptops.html |title=NDP introduces bill for tighter controls on use of 'conflict minerals' in cellphones and laptops |work=Toronto Star |date=26 March 2013 |access-date=19 July 2013}} and campaign against "blood diamonds".
Zimbabwe
{{Location map |Zimbabwe | label= |caption=Location of the Marange diamond fields roughly 90 km south west of Mutare. |alt=Marange diamond fields are roughly 90 km south west of Mutare in the eastern border province of Manicaland. |lat_deg=19 |lat_min=16 |lat_dir=S |lon_deg=32 |lon_min=12 |lon_dir=E |position=right |width=200 |float=right}}
IMPACT claimed that around $2bn (£1.26bn) worth of diamonds was stolen by Zimbabwe's rulers, such as the military, police, and "ruling elite", saying that "The scale of illegality is mind-blowing".{{cite news |last=Smith |first=David |date=12 November 2012 |title=Zimbabwe regime accused of stealing $2bn in diamonds |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/12/zimbabwe-diamonds-mugabe-marange-fields |work=The Guardian |location=London |access-date=19 July 2013}}
IMPACT also claimed that Robert Mugabe gained $2 billion from looting in the Marange diamond fields in 2012.{{cite web |url=http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/07/17/wilbert-mukori-on-wednesday-17-july-2013/ |title=Wilbert Mukori on Wednesday 17 July 2013 |publisher=SW Radio Africa |access-date=4 August 2013 |url-status=usurped |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819212820/http://www.swradioafrica.com/2013/07/17/wilbert-mukori-on-wednesday-17-july-2013/ |archive-date=19 August 2014}} IMPACT went on to say that "This shows Zimbabwe was wilfully in breach of the ... ban on Marange diamonds", following the leaking of a document from the Mineral Marketing Corporation, which detailed the proposed sale of $200 million worth of illegal diamonds through several Zimbabwe banks.{{cite news |last=Berger |first=Joshua Howat |date=30 August 2011 |title=Foreign banks 'enabling' Zimbabwe diamond violence: groups |url=https://www.modernghana.com/news/348076/foreign-banks-enabling-zimbabwe-diamond-violence-groups.html |work=Agence France-Presse|access-date=13 October 2020}} This led to criticism from IMPACT, and the Human Rights Watch.
= Diamond sale =
Alan Martin went on to criticise major European banks, such as Barclays, for having investments in some of the Zimbabwe banks involved in the sale of diamonds; saying "By facilitating these transactions, Barclays, Stanbic (Standard Bank) and the IFC are participating in diamond-related violence".
Publications
In 2000, Partnership Africa Canada released a report entitled The Heart of the Matter:Sierra Leone, Diamonds & Human Security: Complete Report about the effect of diamonds in Sierra Leone.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vJ3ivXIW_dsC |title=The Heart of the Matter: Sierra Leone, Diamonds & Human Security: Complete Report (Google eBook) |isbn=9780756707927 |access-date=4 August 2013|last1=Smillie |first1=Ian |last2=Gberie |first2=Lansana |last3=Hazleton |first3=Ralph |year=2000 }} Since that time, they have produced a number of reports on the state of the diamond industry, and efforts to control the flow of conflict minerals.
Awards
In 2003, Partnership Africa Canada was nominated jointly for the Nobel Peace Prize, with Global Witness for their role in establishing the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme to limit the ability of armed groups to fund their operations through the sale of conflict diamonds{{cite web |url=http://www.diamonds.net/News/NewsItem.aspx?ArticleID=6358&ArticleTitle=NGOs+Get+Nobel+Prize+Nomination+For+Conflict+Diamond+Work |title=NGOs Get Nobel Prize Nomination For Conflict Diamond Work |date=2 March 2002 |publisher=Diamonds.net |access-date=4 August 2013}} They were jointly nominated by the American Senator Patrick Leahy, and the American Representatives Ralph Hall and Frank Wolf. However, the award was won by Shirin Ebadi for her work on democracy and human rights.{{cite web |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2003/ |title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2003 |publisher=Nobelprize.org |access-date=4 August 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://impacttransform.org/en/}}
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