How Is A Diamond Guaranteed "Conflict-Free?"

Q & A for Consumers: How is a diamond guaranteed "conflict-free?" The Kimberley Process (KP) is the only international certification scheme for "conflict-free" diamonds. According to its latest global report, the KP stamped over $112 billion USD worth of diamonds as "conflict-free." So what exactly does the Kimberley Process monitor? Conflict diamonds In response to the publicized and bloody wars that ravaged Sierra Leone, Angola, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN General Assembly founded the KP with this definition: YES! Rebel movements? "conflict diamonds" are "rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict %3D aimed at undermining legitimate government." But how about violence sanctioned by governments? Marange, Zimbabwe: In 2011, the KP certified diamonds from these mines even after they acknowledged police and military abuses, which included killings, beatings, forced labor, rape, and torture by officials. These blood diamonds were given the KP seal of approval and released into the world market. NO! Have there been other atrocites that the KP has Angola: Similar human rights violations, perpetrated by government powers, have been reported here. Ăs the fifth largest producer of diamonds in the world, Angola feels no pressure from either the KP or the diamond companies to change its existing practices. YES! willfully overlooked ? Sierra Leone: Though now a peaceful nation, miners here make little or no pay, and the country and its people continue to be among the poorest in the world. Earlier this year, Human Rights Watch reported that mining companies are prohibiting access to food and preventing workers from challenging their conditions. Does the KP help to defend workers' rights in Nope. its participating nations? Surat, India: With its monopoly on diamond cutting, child labor and human rights violations are rampant here. Children are valued for their keen eyesight and agile hands as they cut small stones for long hours in poor working conditions. How about STOP child labor?? Sadly, no. How does the KP track diamonds after After rough diamonds are traded to another KP member, the Kimberley Process stops there. Whatever happens during the cutting and polishing of the diamonds, as well as their wholesale and retail exchanges occurs out of its purview. It doesn't. mining? Democratic Republic of the Congo, Angola, Malaysia, and Ghana: According to their website, "the Kimberley Process is aware of a number of recent incidents where traders have been presented with fake documents purporting to be Kimberley Process certificates" from these countries. And can KP Yes, they papers be forged to traders? can and have. Canada: Mining diamonds damages fragile ecosystems, impacting the land and the wildlife that aboriginal communities have sustained for generations. Very few of these people profit from these exploits- --the Canadian diamond industry is controlled by only 3 mining giants, including DeBeers. Does the KP take a stand on Not at all. environmental standards? How does KP help control global prices and demand? It doesn't. Again, the KP does not trace what happens throughout every stage of the diamond process. Also, since the KP requires a consensus to change policy, many of its members (including diamond corporations and corrupt governments) are happy to maintain the status quo. So giants like oothe DeBeers In fact, NGO's like Global Witness, who spear- headed campaigns in the 90's to bring blood diamonds to light, believe that the diamond Absolutely. industry is hiding behind the KP's certification of "conflict- free." That is among the reasons why Global Witness left the Kimberley Process in 2011. Corporation are still in control? Sources http://www.kimberleyprocess.co https://kimberleyprocessstatistics.org/public_statistic http://www.hrw.org/news/2011/06/28/zimbobwe kimberley-process bri http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/25/world/africa/25diamonds.htm pogewonted=28-r=0&emc=etc http://www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/19/sierro-leone mining -boom brings rights -abus http://www.miningwatch.co/hom http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15842528/ns/world_news//diamonds journey grime- behind-glite http://www.globolwitness.org http://online.wsj.com/news/articlas/SB10001424052748704198004575311282588959188?moc WSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollaction&mgreno wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSBTO00T4240527487041980045/531128 B8959188. htm %3Fmod%3DWSJ_hpp_LEADNewsCollactic ttp://www.globalwitness.org/library/why we are leaving-kimberley process messoge global witnes founding director charmian "The Heartless Stone: A Journey through the World of Diomonds, Deceipt, and Desir Is a Kimberley Process diamond free from conflict? Can any mined diamond be "conflict-free?" SHARON Z JEWELRY Modern Jewelry with a Modern Conscience www.sharonzjewelry.com 8+