| Global Witness, an international NGO whose goal is to | | | | the trade of conflict diamonds. This meeting was the |
| expose corrupt exploitation of natural resources & | | | | beginning of the process that led to the adoption of |
| international trade systems and human rights abuses | | | | a United Nations resolution that established the |
| worldwide, has brought the issue of 'blood diamonds' | | | | Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. |
| or 'conflict diamonds' back into public attention. With | | | | The KPCS is a joint government certification |
| its recent release of a report entitled, Return of the | | | | procedure that is designed to certify the origins of |
| Blood Diamond, Global Witness describes a violent | | | | rough diamonds to ensure the export of only safe, |
| state of affairs in the Marange diamond fields in | | | | conflict-free diamonds. It is also means to reassure |
| eastern Zimbabwe. The report discusses three years | | | | consumers that the diamonds they purchase at retail |
| of "violent assaults by government security forces | | | | have not contributed to the use of violence, human |
| against diamond diggers and local communities" and | | | | rights abuses, child labor, or environmental destruction. |
| the "efforts of the Zanu PF and military elite to seize | | | | The Kimberley Process imposes requirements on |
| control of Marange's diamonds through a combination | | | | member governments to guarantee that all of the |
| of abusive military operations and suspect | | | | diamonds they import and export are conflict-free. |
| deal-making". Global Witness goes on to criticize the | | | | The process requires that all members trade only |
| Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), a | | | | with other participants and only when a certificate |
| joint government certification procedure designed to | | | | accompanies rough diamond shipments. The Kimberly |
| prevent the sale of blood diamonds on the | | | | Process is open to all countries that comply with their |
| international market, for failing to take action. The | | | | restrictions. There are 49 members, representing 75 |
| report states, "Zimbabwe is arguably the Kimberley | | | | different countries, who account for approximately |
| Process's biggest test yet; one it is currently failing." | | | | 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds. |
| Global Witness was one of the first organizations to | | | | Blood diamonds again became the topic of |
| investigate and expose the role of the diamond trade | | | | conversation in 2006, with the release of Edward |
| in funding conflicts in Africa and was a catalyst in the | | | | Zwick's film "Blood Diamond", which depicted the |
| formation of the Kimberley Process. In 1998 they | | | | brutal civil war that took place in Sierra Leone in the |
| launched their 'Combating Conflict Diamonds' | | | | 1990's. The war was waged by the Revolutionary |
| campaign, which uncovered and exposed the link | | | | United Front (RUF), led by Foday Sankoh, in order to |
| between diamonds and funding conflict. It was at this | | | | gain control of the diamond fields. Before the war |
| time that the term 'blood diamond' or 'conflict | | | | broke out Sierra Leone suffered from corruption in |
| diamond' was coined. Global Witness' investigations | | | | the diamond sector and was one of the poorest |
| increased awareness about blood diamonds and | | | | countries in the world. Because of this Sierra Leone |
| international concern. In 2000 the South African | | | | was easily succumb to the trafficking of arms and |
| diamond producing states met with representatives | | | | ammunition as well as drugs. All these factors |
| of the diamond industry and NGO's in Kimberley, | | | | contributed to weak security situation and facilitation |
| South Africa to discuss and plan a method for halting | | | | of crime in the region. |