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EU Should Push to Protect Rights in Diamond Trade

Next week (June 18-22) the European Union hosts governments, the diamond industry, and nongovernmental groups in the diamond-trading city of Antwerp to take stock of the Kimberley Process, the certification process set up nearly two decades ago to end the…
News

Diamond Trade Still Fuels Human Suffering

It’s been almost two decades now since governments came together to end the trade in “blood diamonds” that were fuelling several brutal wars in Africa. They set up the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, a system of export and import controls for…
News

HRW Submission to the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)

December 2014

Human Rights Watch welcomes the opportunity to review the draft IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. Below are recommendations based on research conducted by Human Rights Watch in various countries. Human Rights Watch has carried out extensive research…
News

Zimbabwe: Diamond Abuses Show Need for Reforms

Kimberley Process Meeting Should Address Human Rights

(Washington, DC) – Members of the international diamond monitoring body known as the Kimberley Process (KP) should press Zimbabwe to address human rights abuses in its diamond fields. They should also reform the KP certification scheme to address human…
News

EU: Keep Sanctions on Mugabe’s Inner Circle

New Reports of Arrests and Harassment of Zimbabwe Activists

(Brussels) – The European Union should maintain its travel restrictions and asset freezes on President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle until Zimbabwe carries out concrete human rights and institutional reforms, ahead of this year’s national elections.…
News

Zimbabwe: Rampant Abuses in Marange Diamond Fields

Police, Private Security Guards Attacking Miners

(Johannesburg) – Zimbabwe police and private security guards employed by mining companies in the Marange diamond fields are shooting, beating and unleashing attack dogs on poor, local unlicensed miners. The evidence gathered by Human Rights Watch…
News

Global: Human Rights Watch Honors 7 Activists

Defenders to Receive the 2011 Alison Des Forges Award

(New York) – Seven courageous and tireless advocates for human rights will be honored in November 2011 with the prestigious Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism, Human Rights Watch said today. These activists from Egypt, Indonesia, Iran,…
News

Zimbabwe: Kimberley Process on the Brink

Decision on Zimbabwe Violated Pact’s Spirit, Purpose

(Washington, DC) - The decision on June 23, 2011, to allow exports from Zimbabwe's Marange diamond fields goes against the very spirit and purpose of the Kimberley Process, Human Rights Watch said today. Governments and companies should repudiate the…
News

India Should Say No to Blood Diamonds

India's new role as a global leader at the United Nations Security Council faces a critical test this week on the issue of "blood diamonds". The term refers to diamonds mined under conditions of gross human rights abuse, and was popularised by the…
News

Kimberley Process: Demand End to Abuses in Diamond Trade

Real Progress Needed in Zimbabwe Marange Fields Before Exports Proceed

(Jerusalem) - The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme should not allow further exports from the Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe until the government makes clear progress in ending abuses and smuggling, Human Rights Watch said today. Participants in…
Report

Deliberate Chaos

Deliberate Chaos Ongoing Human Rights Abuses in the Marange Diamond Fields of Zimbabwe Summary Methodology Human Rights in Marange Continuing Abuses: Forced Labor Private Firms and…
News

Kimberley Process: Halt Zimbabwe Diamond Trade

Despite Promises to Reform, New Abuses by Military

(Tel Aviv) - The government of Zimbabwe has broken its promises under the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) work plan to improve abusive practices in its diamond fields and should formally be suspended from the Kimberley Process, Human Rights…
News

Zimbabwe: End Persecution of Activist Group

(New York) - Civil Society organizations, including Global Witness, Human Rights Watch, and Partnership Africa Canada, today condemned the state-sponsored harassment and intimidation of a Zimbabwean nongovernmental organization, the Centre for Research…
News

Protect Jewelry Industry from the Taint of Blood Diamonds

From March 18 to 25, Basel will be filled with excitement and beauty as nearly 2,000 companies and 100,000 people in the watch and jewelry business in 100 countries gather for BaselWorld, the world's largest jewelry show. As is well known, the watch…
News

Blood diamond

When people buy diamond jewellery, they often want to convey love or commitment to someone dear and special. But, this jewellery, if it contains diamonds from the Marange diamond fields in eastern Zimbabwe, could have a bloody past signifying mistreatment…
News

How Israel Can Help Stop the Flow of Zimbabwe’s Blood Diamonds

Diamonds and Human Rights

Browsing for diamond jewelry off Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, you can't tell by looking where the diamonds in the store windows come from. But experts can. And those same experts have affirmed that diamonds from the Marange fields of eastern Zimbabwe are…
News

Stop Zim's abusive diamond trade

You would think that, with its vibrant diamond trade, South Africa would be first in line to prevent the smuggling of diamonds from Zimbabwe. Instead, South Africa has played a more equivocal role with its neighbour. The result is that South Africa is at…
News

Major Diamond Retailers: Act Now to Stop Zimbabwe Blood Diamonds

Letter to Tiffany & Co., Zale, Cartier, and Other Major Diamond Retailers

Dear Sir: I am writing to urge your company to publicly commit to not purchase or sell diamonds from Zimbabwe. Throughout 2009, Human Rights Watch conducted field-based research in the diamond fields of Marange, in eastern Zimbabwe.  We found that…
News

Stem the flow of blood diamonds from Zimbabwe

Consumers can send a powerful message by shunning diamonds from Zimbabwe, where torture, forced labor and other human rights abuses are inflicted in the diamond fields.

Writing From Johannesburg, South Africa - As Americans flock to stores for holiday shopping, some plan to buy diamonds for loved ones. But that special gift could have a bloody past. If the diamonds are from Zimbabwe, the stones could have been mined…