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West Africa's blood diamonds: update

On Thursday 26th April, the Special Court for Sierra Leone found Charles Taylor, the former President of Liberia, guilty of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Revolutionary United Force (RUF) in Sierra Leone. The court concluded that Taylor had supported and mentored the RUF during the 11-year civil war and as such, was criminally responsible for the atrocities committed by the rebels. The court also ruled that Taylor had supplied arms and ammunition in exchange for diamonds mined in regions controlled by the RUF. Read More >>

How will the US handle the Kimberley Process?

When the decision to allow Zimbabwe to resume diamond exports from Marange was announced, there was a very small silver lining attached. After months of political wrangling, the USA was finally appointed as the new Chair of the Kimberley Process. The decision to allow the US to lead the Kimberley Process over 2012 was seen as a hopeful indication that the KP mandate could be examined and expanded over the next year. Read More >>

Blood Diamonds on the High Street

In 1998, Global Witness released a report that exposed the role of diamonds in funding civil war in Angola.  Five years later, in 2003, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 introduced the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), with the aim of preventing ‘conflict diamonds’ from entering the mainstream market.

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Keeping conflict gold on the agenda

The recent decision to allow Zimbabwe to resume diamond exports has once more pushed the issue of conflict diamonds to the forefront of the ethical sourcing debate in the jewellery industry.

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Global Witness Leaves the Kimberley Process

One of the few ‘saving graces’ of the Kimberley Process (KP) – the scheme set up to break the link between diamonds and conflict – was the active involvement of Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Read More >>

Dismay at decision to allow the export of rough diamonds from Zimbabwe

The recent news that Zimbabwe will once again be included within the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is hugely disappointing.
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Kimberley Process monitor finally arrives in Zimbabwe

After four months of squabbling, a candidate has finally been appointed to monitor the Chiadzwa diamond fields in Zimbabwe. Abbey Chikane is a former Chairman of the Kimberley Process, and heads the South African Diamond Board. Since arriving in Zimbabwe in early March he has met with state-authorised mining firms and ministry officials. Read More >>

The Fight Against Blood Diamonds

As with all very high-value goods, the trade in diamonds is subject to more than its fair share of abuse. In particular, the high price of diamonds in relation to their size makes them vulnerable to being controlled to finance war and insurgency. Read More >>

Call For Zimbabwe Diamond Restrictions

Human rights groups are calling for Zimbabwe's access to the diamond trade to be restricted following reports of brutality by government militia. Due to their value and crucial place in the export of natural resources,  mining of diamonds is particularly open to abuse by interested parties. Read More >>

What Gives Diamonds Their Sparkle?

Diamonds are prized for several reasons - they are very hard, making them an important component in cutting technology - and they are intrinsically beautiful. Diamonds sparkle and shine like no other gemstone, which is why they are so prized by bespoke jewellery  makers. Manufacturers of fake diamonds try to recreate this characteristic and some come close, but never with complete success. So what makes diamonds sparkle?

The science of the sparkle Read More >>

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