Global Witness Trust

Global Witness Trust is a UK-based charitable organisation registered under charity number 1117844 in England and Wales. Incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, the Trust is dedicated to advancing public education on environmental issues, particularly focusing on the preservation, conservation, and sustainable development of the natural environment. Additionally, it supports research and investigations into the interconnection between environmental damage and human rights impacts, especially in communities affected by such harm.

Objectives and Activities

The principal objectives of Global Witness Trust include:

• Promoting public awareness and education on environmental matters.
• Supporting research initiatives related to human rights issues arising from environmental degradation.
• Facilitating the conservation and sustainable management of natural environments.

To achieve these aims, the Trust primarily functions as a grant-making body. It raises funds through grants, donations, legacies, and other contributions, which it then allocates to support the charitable elements of investigations and campaigns that align with its mission. These activities are often conducted in conjunction with the wider Global Witness organisation, of which the Trust supports the charitable aspects financially.

Governance

Global Witness Trust is governed by a voluntary board of Trustees who operate independently from Global Witness. These Trustees oversee the strategic direction and ensure compliance with charity law and relevant statutory regulations. The governance structure promotes transparency and accountability in the Trust’s operations.

Relationship with Global Witness

While both entities share a related mission, Global Witness Trust specifically functions as the supportive grant-making charity arm, complementing the investigative and campaigning work carried out by Global Witness. Global Witness, a not-for-profit limited company, focuses on exposing abuses by companies harmful to the environment and communities, whereas the Trust supports related research and education efforts financially.

Financial Overview

The Trust’s financial activities include raising and distributing funds to further its charitable objectives. It complies with the Charity Commission’s requirements and publishes its financial statements for public review, ensuring transparency about its funding sources and expenditures.

Global Witness Trust continues to play a vital role in supporting environmental and human rights education and research, leveraging grant-making to empower investigations and campaigns that strive for a sustainable and just world.

Note: This article is based on publicly available information from the Global Witness official website and the Charity Commission register for the Global Witness Trust (charity number 1117844).

[1] https://globalwitness.org/en/about-us/global-witness-trust/ [2] https://www.globalwitness.org [3] https://www.globalwitness.org/en/about-us/governance/ [4] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3953458/charity-overview [5] https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1117844&subid=0