EcoLur
Open data, public participation in mining industry has been recognized as priorities of the next three years of the 'Publish What You Pay' International network.
These issues were discussed during the 15th regional conference of the 'Publish What You Pay' on September 10-12 in Kyrgyzstan. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen the transnational coordination of 'Publish What You Pay' member countries, to facilitate the exchange of experience across Eurasia.
EcoLur Informational NGO presented the role of civil society in the EITI process in Armenia, the existing issues and recommendations. The outputs of 'Mining Affected Communities - Full Participants in the EITI Process' project were presented -participation of mining-affected communities in the EITI process, financial relationships between local populations and mining companies, government and business responsibility for community development, compensation for damage and other issues raised by the local population were discussed.
The creation of a system of real owners of metal ore mining companies was mentioned as an achievement of the EITI of Armenia. During the conference, issues related to the region's extractive sector and a strategy of increasing transparency and accountability were highlighted. Participants outlined the priorities of the Publish What You Pay initiative for the next three years:
1. Transparency of revenues and contracts, disclosure of real owners,
2. Impact on the community: costs and benefits, including environmental and social impacts;
3. Strengthening coordination and interaction, including civil society participation.
'Publish what you pay' is a group of civil society organizations with more than 500 organizations and 50 national coalitions.
This material has been prepared within “Mining-Impacted Communities – Full Participants in EITI Process'” project implemented by EcoLur with the USAID support within the frames of “Engaged Citizenry for Responsible Governance” project implemented by Transparency International Anticorruption Center.
This article is made possible by the generous support of the American People through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
September 17, 2019 at 16:16