New Gov Watchdog Report Finds Wildlife Trafficking Prevention Efforts at Risk for Human Rights Abuses
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report entitled, WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING: Agencies Should Improve Efforts to Protect Human Rights in Overseas Activities, which found inadequacies and inconsistencies in federal agencies’ efforts to safeguard against human rights abuses in wildlife trafficking prevention initiatives. The report responds to a bipartisan request from U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.). The lawmakers issued the following statements on release of the report:
“No matter the cause, purpose, or initiative, human rights abuses must never be permitted to pass,” said Ranking Member Grijalva. “Combatting wildlife trafficking is critical to both our international conservation efforts and global security, but the U.S. must elevate its standards to meet that aim in a way that respects and dignifies human life. While I recognize and commend the agencies’ progress in implementing safeguards against human rights abuses, continued shortcomings are inexcusable. I’m glad to see the agencies have agreed with GAO’s recommendations, and I will continue to work with Chair Westerman to ensure they follow through with action.”
“I’m pleased to see GAO engaged in such an important topic in response to the bipartisan oversight work of the Natural Resources Committee,” said Chairman Westerman. “Our oversight work is far from over. Now that the agencies under investigation have been put on notice, they must implement lasting change. The committee will continue spotlighting their actions to put an end to the abuse and misconduct spotlighted by the committee and GAO.”
Background and Report Findings
In 2019, following extensive investigative reporting by Buzzfeed News, then-Chair Grijalva and then-Ranking Member Rob Bishop (R-Utah), later followed by then-Ranking Member Westerman, launched an investigation into allegations that park rangers at multiple World Wildlife Fund-supported parks had committed severe human rights abuses — including murder, rape, and torture — against Indigenous peoples and local community members. The investigation, and a previous GAO report, examined whether federal funding, namely U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) grants, had sufficient safeguards to protect against human rights abuses, and found several deficiencies. The lawmakers responded to the findings with several actions, including the request for this GAO report and introduction of the Advancing Human Rights-Centered International Conservation Act.
To determine the adequacy of human rights protection mechanisms (i.e., social safeguards) in federal funding to address wildlife trafficking, GAO examined 19 different funding awards across FWS, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Department of State (State). The agencies had each implemented some actions to strengthen social safeguards since the lawmakers’ investigation, but they varied significantly. For example, State published guidance on social safeguards, while FWS had only initiated a pilot to assess risks.
GAO also found that the agencies had not ensured timely submission of funded organizations’ social safeguard plans, with one plan being submitted nearly two years after the deadline. The agencies are also lacking in their efforts to monitor and track organizations’ progress on their social safeguard plans, and to ensure abuse allegations are reported in a timely manner. In fact, during their investigation, GAO identified sexual abuse allegations that State was unaware of.
GAO issued recommendations for each agency that included requiring organizations to submit plans in a timely manner, provide monitoring updates, and report abuse allegations in a timely manner.
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