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Gillian

Caldwell directors@globalwitness.org via mail129.wdc02.mcdlv.net

Jade mine, Kachin State, Myanmar. Photo - Minzayar

Dear Myo,

I am writing to say thank you for your support this year.

2015 has been an amazing year for Global Witness. I feel enormously proud

to work for an organisation that is currently deeply engaged in 19 campaigns

across 29 countries–investigating and exposing injustice, and advocating for

systemic change to end corruption, conflict, human rights abuse and

environmental destruction. The team has had many great campaign

successes throughout the year and I wanted to share just a few of them with

you:

Forests, Land & Climate

We helped 14 indigenous communities in Vietnam get their land back

from one of Vietnam’s biggest rubber firms

In October, HAGL, one of Vietnam’s biggest rubber firms, officially confirmed

the company's commitment to stop any further clearance or development of

local communities’ land and to return the remaining undeveloped land to the

community - estimated to be more than 10,000 hectares.

This is the result of years of

work following the launch of

the Rubber Barons report in

2013, which revealed how

HAGL was routinely bulldozing

local communities’ land and

clearing large areas of intact

forest.

Danish timber giant kicked out of Forest Stewardship scheme thanks to

Global Witness evidence

In February, Danish timber giant Dalhoff Larsen and Horneman (DLH)

was expelled from the world’s leading timber certifier, the Forest Stewardship

Council, following evidence presented by Global Witness that the

company traded illegal timber linked to land grabbing in Liberia. Currently the

company are taking positive steps to improve their due diligence system and

compensate the communities adversely affected by the illegal logging.

Anti-Corruption

UK historic initiative to prevent corrupt money flowing through UK

banks

In June, the UK’s banking regulator published new rules which mean that a

named senior executive will now be held personally responsible for

their bank’s efforts to prevent money laundering. This was in large part due to

Global Witness’ campaigning and the new rules will make it more likely that

banks will take preventing corruption more seriously. Unfortunately, last week

the UK House of Lords failed to prevent a government initiative to soften

these rules, but we will continue to push hard for senior bank executives to be

held fully accountable.

Mystery on Baker Street

In July, we released Mystery on Baker Street exposing the levels of corrupt

money entering the UK’s property market. The report was widely covered in

the UK national media and was referenced in a speech by UK Prime Minister,

David Cameron, who stated that “the UK must not become a safe haven for

corrupt money from around the world”.

Conflict Resources and Fragile States

Preventing oil exploration in the World Heritage Site Virunga National

Park

In June, we released

new evidence suggesting that

oil company Soco International

had paid tens of thousands of

dollars to a Congolese army

officer accused of human

rights abuses and bribery in

the course of his work as the

company’s official military

liaison.

As a result, the authorities in DRC have launched an investigation into the

officer in question, and the Congolese Environment Minister has stated that

he is not in favour of oil work inside Virunga.

Ensuring responsibly sourced mineral supply chains in Europe

In May, the European Parliament voted in favour of mandatory responsible

sourcing requirements for all companies placing four key minerals – tin,

tungsten, tantalum and gold – or products containing these, on the EU

market. Global Witness has been advocating for this since 2013, and the

resulting regulation contained almost all of our key demands.

Asia

Jade: Myanmar’s ‘Big State Secret’

In October we released Jade: Myanmar's "Big State Secret", the culmination

of an explosive 12-month investigation. The report has brought public

attention to the devastating environmental and social impacts of rampant

industrial-scale mining. It reveals how Myanmar's vast jade trade,

representing almost half the country’s GDP, is being secretly controlled by

military elites, drug lords and crony companies associated with the darkest

days of junta rule. The report has opened up opportunities to influence

recommendations on changes related to US sanctions in Myanmar and to

ensure that transparency reforms such as the Extractives Industry

Transparency Initiative flush out key data on Jade.

Organisational Development

Expanded Board of Directors

I have been privileged to work on the expansion of our Board of Directors to

includeMark Stephens CBE (Chair), Samuel Nguiffo and Stephen Peel, who

will help to oversee the strategy and direction of the organisation as we move

forwards

For over 20 years, Global Witness has exposed how many of the world’s

worst environmental and human rights abuses are driven by the exploitation

of natural resources, and corruption in the global political and economic

system. We have only been able to achieve change on these issues because

of the generous support of our donors and other supporters. Next year we will

continue to work towards a better world: a world where corruption is

challenged and accountability prevails, so that all can thrive within the

planet’s boundaries and governments act in the public interest.

From all of us here at Global Witness, thank you so much again for your

support. I hope you enjoy the holiday period and I look forward to catching up

with you again in the New Year.

Sincerely,

Gillian Caldwell

Executive Director, Global Witness