Addressing government and industry representatives in New York on March 3, at the occasion of the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the Role of Diamonds in Fueling Conflict, the Kimberley Process (KP) Civil Society Coalition (CSC) questioned the often-hailed contribution of the KP to preventing conflict and promoting development.
“The KP does not have the means at its disposal to act promptly upon early warning signs of widescale violence, let alone to stop it from escalating. It is an indolent organ with embargoes as its sole response to react after the damage is already done. Even worse, ‘damage’ in KP terms refers solely to situations where diamonds finance rebels that fight governments. The KP turns a blind eye to all other forms of violence such as human rights abuses, torture, inhumane or degrading treatment, environmental degradation and economic crimes.”………Click here for more information.
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