"Diamond industry urged to improve human rights record", 13 Nov 2018

A group of civil society organisations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch has called on the diamond industry to unveil relevant clean-up measures to address its track record related to human rights abuses and other trade practices...

Members of the international community, comprising participating countries, industry representatives and civil society, are meeting in Brussels for the Kimberley Process Plenary...

The coalition has noted that rebel groups are cashing in on the loopholes in the Kimberley Process’ existing definition of a conflict diamond.

IMPACT Executive Director Joanne Lebert said: “Time is up for the diamond industry. Image is everything to the value of diamonds, yet the industry continues to be tainted by association with human rights abuses like child labour and forced labour, as well as conflict, environmental damage, and corruption...

The civil society group has also urged the industry to live up to the promise of ensuring the diamonds purchased by customers are sourced, traded, and processed responsibly...