WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), and Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) will hold a hearing:
“The Link between Revenue Transparency and Human Rights”
Thursday, April 22
2:30 p.m.
Room 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
This hearing will focus on programs that support revenue transparency, such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), and their ability to improve human rights in resource-rich countries. One of the hallmarks of EITI is the equal seat that civil society is given at the table with government and industry through the multi-stakeholder working group. Questions remain, however, as to the real role civil society is being allowed to play, and whether or not this increased role for civil society and the increased transparency of payments will translate into concrete improvements in the implementing countries.
The following witnesses are scheduled to testify:
Panel 1
Mr. Daniel Baer, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, State Department
Panel 2
Mr. Max Bokayev, Chairman, Kazakhstan-based NGO “Arlan”
Mr. Ian Gary, Senior Policy Advisor for Extractive Industries, Oxfam America
Mr. Anthony Richter, Chairman, Governing Board, Revenue Watch Institute and EITI Board Member
