WDC Reveals New Conflict-Diamond Definition

RAPAPORT... The World Diamond Council (WDC) has released its proposed newKimberley Process (KP) definition of conflict diamonds, which addresses abroader range of human-rights abuses. The definition describes them as "rough diamonds used bypublic security forces or private (including criminal or mercenary) armedgroups to acquire wealth through illegal control, bribery, taxation, extortionor dispossession of people," the WDC said Tuesday. It would also include stones"acquired through systemic and widespread violence, forced labor, the worstforms of child labor, or through violations of international humanitarian law." The previous language only referred to diamonds used byrebel movements to finance conflict. As a result, the definition has been amatter of debate for years, with critics arguing that it failed to censureviolence by governments. Canada put the proposal forward to the KP plenary inBrussels, Belgium, this week. All country members of the KP must unanimouslyapprove it for it to pass. The proposal will not be voted on in the current KP plenary, but will be tabled as a proposal to be discussed, Stephane Fischler, president of the WDC, which represents the trade at the KP told Rapaport News. "This is a tremendous opportunity for us, through the KPprocess, to make a difference in the lives of people residing in some of themost challenged diamond-producing nations around the world," Fischler added. The US government also proposed a new "declaration ofprinciples" for responsibly sourced diamonds dealing with human rights,community development, health and labor standards, environmental impacts, andthe battle on crime and terrorism. The KP will probably activate any approved changes in phasesso KP participants have enough time to implement them, the WDC added. Image: Artisanal diamond miner in Sierra Leone. (Mummane)