Diamonds Still Linked to Conflict – Civil Society

RAPAPORT Civil-society groups have lashed out at the lack of transparency in the diamond industry, claiming the trade continues to be linked to human-rights abuses, conflict finance and corruption "Although the diamond industry is not the only sector facing these threats, it is unique in its particular unwillingness and inability to take genuine steps towards responsible business conduct," read a statement published by Amnesty International, The Enough Project, Global Witness, Human Rights Watch and Impact The organizations highlighted the role of diamonds in the ongoing conflict in Central African Republic, noting that "Current measures are failing to adequately address this unacceptable situation" The KP allowed supervised exports of rough diamonds from certain compliant regions in the country, with a two-week clearance deadline that was shortened to one week during the KP intersessional meeting this past June.

Given these failures of the KP, the civil-society groups urged the diamond sector to strengthen its participation in other responsible-sourcing forums The groups expressed concern that efforts by individual companies to advance responsible sourcing lacked serious engagement "Both the diamond industry and the international community should be extremely concerned that links between diamonds, human-rights abuse, conflict and corruption remain a reality and that current measures are failing to adequately address this unacceptable situation," the civil-society groups said. Source