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Anglo-American Mining's Zim Deal Questioned, Global Compact "Should Pay Attention," UNICEF Demos

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: News Analysis

UNITED NATIONS, July 9 -- As the UK and others push to impose UN sanctions on Zimbabwe, a divergence of views has emerged about the propriety of investing under the Robert Mugabe government.  In light of the $400 million investment in Zimbabwe by Anglo-American Mining, Inner City Press asked the UK's Ambassador to the UN John Sawers if such investment is helpful. "I don't think major decisions at this time can be made about the future of Zimbabwe," he said, adding that "I think most private sector investors will recognize that." Video here, from Minute 4:36.

 But UK-based Anglo-American Mining apparently does not agree. Since the company's CEO, Sir Mark Moody-Stuart, is the chairman of the Foundation for the UN Global Compact, Inner City Press asked the UN's second highest official, Asha Rose Migiro, what approach to investing in Zimbabwe the Compact, and Anglo-American Mining, ought to take. "We hope they will give attention to the suffering," she said. When Inner City Press asked for clarification, she added that "the Global Compact does look into these issues," saying that the idea behind the Compact "is to have rules and standards... they should pay attention to." Video here, from Minute 11:55.

   But is the Global Compact paying attention? Does Anglo-American have any human rights standards for its investments in Zimbabwe?


Asha Rose Migiro on July 8, Global Compact and Anglo-American responses on Zim still not shown

    Inner City Press on the morning of July 8 asked the director and spokesman of the Compact, "
can the Compact and / or Sir Mark Moody-Stuart comment on deadline on investment in Zimbabwe, if and how it is justified, what safeguards should be in place, and what would trigger a decision to disinvest or pull back?"  At 8:30 that night, the spokesman replied that he would "have to get back to you tomorrow on this. But will check if Sir Mark wishes to respond."

   Apparently Sir Mark and Anglo-American do not wish to respond. By close of business on the following day, still no explanation had been provided.

  Elsewhere in the UN system, UNICEF put out a statement that it has avoided twenty partnerships this year with businesses which are legal but which don't fit UNICEF's standards.  When Inner City Press asked for the names of these business, or even just one of them, the request was denied. The idea is that UNICEF did not make the statement in order to shame any particular business. But then why make the statement, and use the number twenty? A generic example was given, of an alcohol manufacturer being turned down by UNICEF since it is an organization for children. (On that, UNICEF has also clarified to Inner City Press as reflected below that, contrary to claims by an Italian minister, it never signed off on the fingerprinting of Roma children.) But would UNICEF partner with Anglo America Mining / Zimbabwe? All answers will appear on this site when they are received. For now, here's UNICEF on Roma:

Q Please comment on -- deny? -- the reports that Italian minister Maroni has said that UNICEF's representative approves
 of a plan to require the fingerprinting of Roma children in Italy.

A: "UNICEF does not support the fingerprinting of Roma children in Italy.  At a meeting with UNICEF's National Committee representatives, Italy's Minister Maroni told UNICEF that fingerprinting will be used only as a last resource, and that other means of identifying children were under discussion. UNICEF's Italian National Committee has committed to monitoring how the planned census of Roma communities is carried out and to monitor measures introduced by Italy to protect and promote the rights of Roma children."

-Chris de Bono, Chief of Media, UNICEF

Watch this site. And this --


   

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These reports are usually also available through Google News and on Lexis-Nexis.

Click here for a Reuters AlertNet piece by this correspondent about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click here for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an undefined trust fund.  Video Analysis here

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