For immediate release
Washington, DC ñ March 25, 2005
Contact: Sarah Pray - 202-463-7575 ext.269 / 202-276-8344 (mobile)
U.S./Chad Partnership In Campaign for World Bank, the Chad Government, and the Oil Consortium Accountability
The partnership between the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights and Delphine Djiraibe of Chad has entered an exciting new phase as they have recently launched several collaborative projects. Last November, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial gave their Human Rights Award to Delphine, who was recognized for her work on the Chad/Cameroon Oil and Pipeline Project. Her multifaceted campaign encompasses fighting governmental corruption, ensuring that the Chadian people benefit from the pipeline and its resulting profits, and preventing environmental devastation resulting from its construction.
In partnership with Delphine, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights (RFK) has begun working on a diverse array of projects to further Delphineís goals of World Bank accountability, corporate social responsibility, access to justice, and governmental transparency in Chad. These projects include possible litigation against the World Bank and the oil companies, an innovative information management project to help civil society in Chad effectively monitor how oil revenues are being spent, and assisting in the creation of a Center for Conflict Resolution.
Delphine has devoted herself to ensure that the oil project does not harm the Chadian people and that the oil revenues go toward improving their human rights. To guarantee that this occurs, the revenue management law (law 001) must be observed, the oversight committee (CollËge de Control et de Surveillance des Resources PÈtroliËres) must be strengthened, and those who misappropriate oil funds must be held accountable.
The RFK Center for Human Rights is helping to attract international attention to this issue, including involving the U.S. government and advocating that World Bank and the oil consortium take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the revenue management law is followed. To effectively oversee the revenue disbursement, civil society in Chad must have sufficient capacity to be able to act as an additional supervisory mechanism.
The partnership between the RFK Center for Human Rights and Delphine Djiraibe has begun successfully, and will continue for years to come working toward the day when the human rights of the people of Chad are guaranteed and respected.
Founded in 1968, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial works to realize Robert F. Kennedyís vision of social justice. In 1984, in order to better reflect the global nature of RFKís work, the Memorial established the Human Rights Award, and to support the Award Laureates, the Center for Human Rights (CHR). To date, the Memorial has recognized thirty five Laureates representing twenty-one different countries. For additional information, please visit www.rfkmemorial.org.
|
