IMPACT (Canadian organization)

IMPACT, formerly known as Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) until October 2017,[3][4] is a non-governmental organization which attempts to control the sourcing of minerals in regions of conflict[5] and campaign against "blood diamonds".[6]

IMPACT
Formation1986 (1986)
TypeNGO
HeadquartersOttawa, Canada[1]
President
Rolland Morier[2]
Vice-President
Nicole Piggott[2]
Websiteimpacttransform.org/en/

Zimbabwe
Marange diamond fields are roughly 90km south west of Mutare in the eastern border province of Manicaland.
Marange diamond fields are roughly 90km south west of Mutare in the eastern border province of Manicaland.
Location of the Marange diamond fields roughly 90km south west of Mutare.

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".[6]

IMPACT also claimed that Robert Mugabe gained $2 billion from looting in the Marange diamond fields in 2012.[7] 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.[8] This led to criticism from IMPACT, and the Human Rights Watch.[8]

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".[8]

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.[9] 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[10] They were jointly nominated by the American Senator Patrick Leahy, and the American Representatives Ralph Hall and Frank Wolf.[10] However, the award was won by Shirin Ebadi for her work on democracy and human rights.[11]

References
  1. "Contact Us". IMPACT. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  2. "Board of Directors". IMPAC. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  3. van Vuuren, Richard Jansen (23 November 2017). "Partnership Africa Canada changes name to IMPACT". Mining Review Africa. Spintelligent (PTY) Ltd. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. Danielski, Zuzia (5 October 2017). "Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) is now IMPACT". impacttransform.org. IMPACT. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. "NDP introduces bill for tighter controls on use of 'conflict minerals' in cellphones and laptops". Toronto Star. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  6. Smith, David (12 November 2012). "Zimbabwe regime accused of stealing $2bn in diamonds". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
  7. "Wilbert Mukori on Wednesday 17 July 2013". SW Radio Africa. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  8. Berger, Joshua Howat (30 August 2011). "Foreign banks 'enabling' Zimbabwe diamond violence: groups". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  9. Smillie, Ian; Gberie, Lansana; Hazleton, Ralph (2000). The Heart of the Matter: Sierra Leone, Diamonds & Human Security: Complete Report (Google eBook). ISBN 9780756707927. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  10. "NGOs Get Nobel Prize Nomination For Conflict Diamond Work". Diamonds.net. 2 March 2002. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  11. "The Nobel Peace Prize 2003". Nobelprize.org. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
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