proposed Draft Call for Papers and abstract template - based on 2014 draft - Kono Conference 2016

1^st Kono Global Conference London – 28-29 July 2016                             University of London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Vernon Square, London, WC1X, UK

Paving the Way For Better Prospects: Understanding the past, marking the challenges and setting our future

Hosted by the Kono District Development Association UK in association with the KDGO & all national and international Kono Organisations

CALL FOR PAPERS

The 1^st Kono Global Conference will be the first of its kind concerning the Kono Peoples and District of Sierra Leone, West Africa. l Highlighting the debates on Kono’s current condition and its l future sustainable development, as well as minority, indigenous and human rights issues rarely if ever openly discussed.

The conference l introduces Kono and Kono’s little known unique identity and historic significance to the world stage. It provides a balanced mix of speakers from individuals to non-governmental organisations, stimulating challenging debates on the state and future of Kono and its people.

It moves the discourse on from problems, to finding resources, lessons learned and solutions within the international global community.

OUTPUTS:

1 Past and current: Raise the profile of Kono District and Kono indigenous ethnic group and the issues facing them. Benchmark each sector of sustainable development (health, environment, social, economic) and human rights

2. Problems and challenges: Engage and involve stakeholders to identify problems, their root causes and challenges

3. Future: Enable stakeholders to identify solutions to root causes and formulate a stakeholders’ action plan.

4. Agreed motions, resolutions, position papers, benchmarks

TARGET AUDIENCES:

• Kono’s and descendants of the Kono District globally

• Governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s and CBO’s)) and activists (sustainable development, agriculture, human rights, indigenous rights, environmental degradation, mining impacts, female and child rights, social political and economic security, legal action on behalf of communities)

• Academics

• UK, European and Sierra Leone civil society, local government, politicians and traditional authorities

THEME:

Paving the way for better prospects: Understanding the past, marking the challenges and setting our future

SUGGESTIONS FOR PAPERS:

You’re invited to submit your paper and presentation addressing issues relating to, but not limited to the subjects below. Please send us a brief abstract before you send your full presentation.

• Introduction to the Kono District, its peoples, history, issues, challenges, threats, opportunities

• Role of the Diaspora

• Non-sustainable development in Kono – past/ present.

• Mining and land, community revenue and rights

•  environmental impact, degradation,  deforestation restoration of soils, lands conservation

• The Resource Curse – stories from our neighbours.

• The future of sustainable development in Kono

• UN Article 8 Declaration On the Rights Of Indigenous Peoples, identity, self-definition, the right to exist, minorities, Diversity vs homogeny.

• Human rights, international advocacy and litigation on behalf of communities

• Improving institutions

• Economic development- diversification of livelihoods, (eg. Agriculture, agroforestry)

• Local Government - action plan implementation

• Building our networks and partnerships

• Motions and resolutions to ratify and support existing international instruments, treaties, policies & networks

• International and Global Mobilising and action planning

• Diaspora investment and settlement in Kono – the butterfly effect, the snowball effect.
Human resources in Kono – raising; standards, skills, quality, supervision, dependability, organisational capacity, motivation to excel, strategic thinking.

CALL FOR EXHIBITORS AND SPONSORS:

An exhibition will run alongside the conference offering organisations an outstanding opportunity to promote their campaigns and products to the influential speakers and delegates. Space is limited so book early to get prime space and avoid missing out. Suppliers can also gain additional exposure through the variety of promotional opportunities for sponsors. See web site for exhibition details, floor layout and sponsorship opportunities.

BACKGROUND:

For a decade in the 1990’s the Kono District was decimated and its people displaced during the Sierra Leone war and the mad scramble for Kono’s ‘blood diamonds’. Many Internally Displaced People and refugees have returned but Kono is still one of the most underdeveloped and neglected regions of Sierra Leone, suffering the environmental and social impacts of kimberlite and alluvial diamond mining. The Kono, district, people, land and culture are all under threat, the Kono language is yet to be recognised in the national curriculum. Kono’s trunk road is one of the last to be built. Because of this the people of Kono are becoming motivated to raise their self-awareness, become a cohesive force for sustainable development and find their way forward.

Template for abstract:

As a guide you can use the following format:

Proposals for papers should be in English and comprise a cover page plus an abstract of the paper.  

(Presentation time will most likely be around 25 minutes of which  10 minutes will be allocated to introduction and questions).

The abstract should contain:

Title of the paper 

Full name and title (Mr., Ms., Dr., Prof.) 

Name of your organisation if applicable

Job Title 

A brief CV of 100 words 

A brief description of the main points of the proposed presentation in 200 – 300 words plus three key messages or learning points stated at the end

The proposed abstract should be submitted using Word

KDDAUK, KONO & CONSTITUTIONAL DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES

(Apologies for previous errors: The legislation concerning mineral resource ownership is contained in the Mines and Minerals Act 2009 not the constitution)

KDDAUK is a Diaspora-led UK charity that has among other things carried out HR advocacy on behalf of the Kono indigenous ethnic group and the Kono District of Sierra Leone. It has recently been exploring the potential for legal actions and taking advantage of the protection of international instruments, especially those concerning indigenous peoples, minorities and land and resource rights.

The Kono ethnic group suffer victimisation, discrimination and political/police suppression. The Kono District suffers environmental degradation and severe underdevelopment. Both phenomena are partly due to the 'resource curse'. Kono's and Kono have the unenviable distinction of being the people referred to in the Hollywood movie 'Blood Diamond' and were driven from their lands because of the 11 year armed scramble for the resources under their feet by a variety of actors, this ended officially in 2002. They have been written out of ownership of their land's mineral resources by Section 2(1) of the Mines and Minerals Act 2009 and now suffer from kimberlite blasting as close as 500 metres  from residences (see ‘Koidu’ Google Earth) , pollution, displacement and receive very little returns in exchange for the tens of thousands of carats per month that are extracted from the district.

In the last few years, the young Mayor of Koidu has advocated strongly in favour of Kono’s and local community rights. He recently initiated legal proceedings for unpaid community development taxes on behalf of the local community, against OCTEA Ltd owned by Beny Steinmetz' BSRG group, which has been named in the Panama Papers.  As the legal system in Sierra Leone is known to work at the behest of the executive arm of government, there was no chance the courts would find in favour of the Mayor. Before the case was concluded he was suspended by decree on trumped up allegations initiated by government ministers. Despite being completely exonerated by the Anti Corruption Commission he is yet to be reinstated. In his absence the court held that OCTEA was not a registered company in Sierra Leone therefore was not active in the country and could not be sued for unpaid taxes.  The decision caused widespread outrage among Sierra Leoneans of all ethnicities at the impunity of international companies, complicity of central government and the continuing corruption of the legal system (following on from the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the sacking of the Vice President, a Kono). Among Kono’s this was perceived as yet another in a series of acts designed to suppress the Kono ethnic minority. There have since been demonstrations by Diaspora Kono’s in London at Tiffany’s at Selfridges and Sloane Square, and in two cities in the US, against the decision, OCTEA, BSRG and Tiffany & Co; reputed to be their largest customer.

KDDAUK intends to assist the mayor and other activists and radio journalists who have been silenced or driven underground for advocating on behalf of the District and the Kono people.

Regardless of current tax liabilities there are nationwide concerns at the low level of national and local revenue written into mining concessions and agreed by central government, the failure of government to gain the full participation of local communities in setting their own terms and their failure to ensure full informed consent of communities without duress once those terms have been agreed. Documentary and recorded evidence exists of Kono communities being  publicly threatened by members of government at the highest levels with withdrawal of all community development action or funds if they did not comply with the government or objected to their actions.  Consultation with paramount chiefs, who are the legal trustees of land, cannot be deemed as community consent, as there is a rift between local communities and their paramount chiefs; the latter are perceived to be working on behalf of the government and not on behalf of their people or for the protection of land and environment. The paramount chiefs have not made it clear whether they act (or stay silent)  willingly or under duress. In any event  KDDAUK are interested in exploring international rights and conventions  that would empower communities to re-open and renegotiate resource contracts, setting their own terms. And international jus cogens that would impose a moral duty on companies and governments to do same.

There is currently a constitutional review in process in Sierra Leone. However, the Sierra Leonean parliament is as beholden to the executive arm of government as is the civil service and judiciary. This is likely to affect chances of repeal of S2(1) of the  Mines and minerals Act which removes  ownership of mineral resources from local communities and grants it to central government (‘the Republic’). Nevertheless the review commission has shown its willingness to make recommendations that do not suit the executive and there may still be a chance of making strong representations for this section to be repealed and for the constitution to guarantee the rights of local communities to decide and receive the revenue and royalties from, and control, mineral resources, and guarantee their exclusive use for the strong sustainable development of local communities, with a minority of revenue going  to central government.