missjennyp

[excerpt]: Today, Southern Africa[3] is home to 65% of the world’s USD 13 billion of annual rough diamond production.  Investigative journalists have documented the bloody nature of diamond mining throughout the continent.

Specifically, mines in Angola, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are or have been under control of rebel groups who employ forced labor and use profits to fund arms and conflict. 

In 2003, to prevent diamond sales from financing rebel movements aimed at undermining legitimate government, or “blood diamonds,” the UN General Assembly launched the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). 75 countries currently participate in the process.

Human Rights Watch and other groups have pointed out, KPCS does not account for diamonds mined in the context of serious or everyday human rights abuses.  So, for example, while diamonds from Angola were once banned due to their role in financing the Civil War there, once the war ended, Angolan diamonds began to be certified as “clean” even though there is ample evidence that the diamond mining industry there is still characterized by much greed, exploitation and violence.

In contrast, governments more closely oversee mines in Botswana, Namibia[4] and South Africa,[5] but wages are low and working conditions remain dangerous. 

Global sales of diamond jewelry amount to more than USD 72 billion annually, yet most miners earn the equivalent of less than one USD per day.

In particular, women living and working in mining areas face numerous adversities.