Helsinki Commission Hearing on Revenue Transparency and Human Rights

PWYP activists were invited to give testimony at the US Helsinki Commission on Thursday the 22d of April 2010. Max Bokayev – Chairman of the Kazakh NGO “Arlan”, Ian Gary – Senior Policy Advisor for Extractive Industries at Oxfam Amrica and Anthony Richter – Chairman of the Governing Board at the Revenue Watch Institute and EITI Board member – discussed the link between revenue transparency and human rights in resource-rich countries. They focussed on the role played by civil society and the extent to which initiatives such as the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative can contribute to improved human rights and what complementary measures are required.

The US Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the “Helsinki Commission”, was created as an independent government commission in 1976 to monitor and foster compliance with the Helsinki Final Act. Constituted by members of the US Senate, the House of Representative, of the Departments of Sate, Defense and Commerce, the Commission contributes to the formulation of US policy.

Download Ian Gary’s testimony.
Download Anthony Richter’s testimony.