Civil society demands urgent Kimberley Process reform

Dirty stones: 
While Botswana epitomises the “diamonds for development” mantra, other parts of Africa suffer from conflict mining and humanitarian abuse. The KP Civil Society further wants the definition of conflict diamonds expanded when the global industry meets in Gaborone next month PIC: LYNSEY ADDARIO
Dirty stones: While Botswana epitomises the “diamonds for development” mantra, other parts of Africa suffer from conflict mining and humanitarian abuse. The KP Civil Society further wants the definition of conflict diamonds expanded when the global industry meets in Gaborone next month PIC: LYNSEY ADDARIO

COTE D’IVOIRE, Yamoussoukro – The KP Civil Society Coalition calls on the Kimberley Process to come to terms with the shortcomings of the certification scheme and to commit to serious reform.

A Plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) will be held in Botswana from November 1st to November 4th, 2022, amid growing concern about the scheme's ineptitude to address the ever-evolving forms of conflict in diamond-producing and trading nations.

As the KPCS celebrates its 20th anniversary next year (2023), most diamond mining communities in Africa and the people of Ukraine will be counting lost human lives, environmental damage, and human rights violations caused by diamond mines or by states whose budgets are heavily funded from diamond production and trade.

Editor's Comment
Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

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