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Zimbabwe’s Kimberley Process Status Investigated
By B. Earth | January 23, 2009
Zimbabwe is in danger of losing its Kimberley Process status as a source of conflict-free diamonds. The Kimberley Process was instated in 2003 to address the problem of conflict diamonds funding civil wars. The mass inquiry will address the extent of Zimbabwe’s control over its diamond exports and whether illegally smuggled stones are supporting Robert Mugabe’s violent and repressive regime. Not only is Mugabe’s illegitimate administration seemingly benefiting financially from smuggled diamonds, but it has persecuted and oftentimes killed its own desperate citizens who have taken to the diamond fields to alleviate their poverty.
A Kimberley Process team is preparing a report on Zimbabwe’s non-compliance with the Process. Unfortunately, the Kimberley Process does not oversee other human rights abuses including child labor, worker exploitation and poverty - it only addresses the narrow UN definition of conflict diamonds as diamonds used to fund conflicts against recognized governments. However, it’s a step in the right direction, and denying Zimbabwe Kimberley Process status will hopefully put more pressure on the government to end the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Brilliant Earth is glad to see the situation in Zimbabwe being treated with urgency. As always, we only offer ethically sourced diamonds that adhere to strict environmental and human rights standards.
Topics: Conflict Diamond Issues, In the News, Uncategorized |