Almas Resources: Emerging Diamond Producer

WDC set New Conflict-Diamond Definition

November 15, 2018

The World Diamond Council (WDC) has released its proposed new Kimberley Process (KP) definition of conflict diamonds, which addresses a broader range of human-rights abuses, wrote Rapaport in a press release. Canada put the proposal forward to the KP plenary in Brussels. All country members of the KP must unanimously approve it for it to pass.

The definition describes them as “rough diamonds used by public security forces or private (including criminal or mercenary) armed groups to acquire wealth through illegal control, bribery, taxation, extortion or dispossession of people,” the WDC said. It would also include stones “acquired through systemic and widespread violence, forced labour, the worst forms of child labour, or through violations of international humanitarian law.”

The previous definition only referred to diamonds used by rebel movements to finance conflict, which has been a matter of debate for years. Critics argued that it failed to censure violence by governments.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for us, through the KP process, to make a difference in the lives of people residing in some of the most challenged diamond-producing nations around the world,” WDC president Stephane Fischler added.

The US government also proposed a new “declaration of principles” for responsibly sourced diamonds dealing with human rights, community development, health and labour standards, environmental impacts, and the battle on crime and terrorism.

Source: Rapaport

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