<<previous | index | next>> III. MethodologyHuman Rights Watch researchers conduct fact-finding investigations into human rights abuses by governments and non-state actors in all regions of the world. We visit the site of abuses to interview victims, witnesses and others. This report is based on six research missions conducted by Human Rights Watch researchers in 2004 and 2005. Our team carried out research in the DRC and Uganda in February, March, May, July and October 2004 and in Europe in January and April 2005. Additional research material from missions to the DRC and Uganda in 2003 was also incorporated. As part of its research Human Rights Watch visited five gold mines and several other small-scale mining operations in Mongbwalu and Durba, northeastern Congo. In preparation for this report, Human Rights Watch researchers interviewed more than 150 individuals including victims, witnesses, gold miners, gold traders, gold exporters, customs officials, OKIMO officials, civil society members and union representatives. Our researchers also met with Ituri armed groups leaders, Ugandan army officials, DRC and Ugandan government representatives as well as with U.N. officials, international diplomats and officials of international financial institutions. Human Rights Watch researchers met with representatives from AngloGold Ashanti on four occasions in Uganda and Congo, and put many of the most troubling allegations to the company in writing offering it an opportunity to respond. Human Rights Watch researchers also engaged in written correspondence with Metalor Technologies and met with the company representatives in Switzerland to discuss concerns. The information in this report was reviewed by external legal counsel in numerous jurisdictions.
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