Press Releases

Press releases and resources for journalists from Global Witness. For general media enquiries please call + 44 (0) 7912 517 127 or email [email protected]. For enquiries about our EU campaigns please contact +32 487 80 31 61.

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| Nov. 29, 2001
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
A good watchdog but crucially lacking in teeth

Non-governmental organisations believe that the final meeting of the Kimberley Process, which has been tasked by the United Nations General Assembly with establishing an international system of controls to certify the trade in rough diamonds has made significant progress towards a final agreement – however there are several vital areas that still need to be addressed for the system to become truly effective upon implementation. The system is a good one but is currently weakened because of the failure to develop strong verification and monitoring measures.
| Oct. 26, 2001
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Hypocrisy On Countering Terrorism - Why Some Governments Are Failing To Take Action On Conflict Diamonds

An increasing number of non-governmental organizations, governments, diamond industry representatives and consumers are growing concerned that the penultimate meeting of the Kimberley Process in Luanda from 30th October to 1st November will not reach consensus on the essential elements of an international certification system for diamonds which are essential to a working and practical agreement.
| Feb. 13, 2001
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Has the diamond industry forgotten its vows? Why has the diamond industry gone quiet on self-regulation of conflict diamonds?

Global Witness is calling on the diamond industry to make a Valentine’s Day pledge to put in place a system of self-regulation across the industry that can be independently monitored and checked, to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds. “We are looking for a comprehensive and verifiable system of self-regulation and not for statements of concern and piecemeal action by different diamond bourses and industry bodies,” said Alex Yearsley, Campaigner, “this is vital if consumers are to have confidence that diamonds can be conflict free.”
| July 19, 2000
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Joint Press Statement by Civil Society Organisations

Wednesday 19 July 2000 Joint Press Statement by Civil Society Organisations Following the World Diamond Congress, 17-19 July 2000 1) The civil society organisations present at the Antwerp 2000 World Diamond Congress are very pleased with the outcome of the conference and the proposals for reform made by IDMA and WFDB. These proposals will go a long way to meeting many of the concerns about conflict diamonds that have been expressed by NGOs in Europe, North America and Africa.
| March 17, 2000
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
When will the Israeli diamond industry and government end their virtual silence on the issue of conflict goods?

March 21-23 sees the meeting of the Israel 2nd International Rough Diamond Conference in Tel Aviv. Unlike Belgium, which stung by criticism has finally begun to institute some constructive reforms, Israel has failed to open up and tackle the issue of conflict goods. This is highly worrying especially as Israel is actively trying to promote itself as a rough diamond centre.
| Feb. 29, 2000
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
De Beers’ statement on conflict goods is a welcome first step on a difficult journey

De Beers’ moves to guarantee to its sightholders and, ultimately, to consumers that it is moving away from its buying policies of the 1990s and will no longer buy or supply goods from rebel armies in Africa is a very welcome development. It shows that the company has listened to criticism from the international community and is moving to address consumer concern about the source of diamonds.
| Jan. 25, 2000
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Why there should not be an embargo on all Angolan diamonds

Global Witness (1) following research on the Angolan diamond trade believes that: 1. It does appear that the Angolan Government has listened to criticisms about serious loopholes in their operation of the Certificate of Origin system which came into force following the UN embargo on unofficial Angolan diamonds (UNSCRes 1173) of 1st July 1998. But it has taken over 18 months to do this and in the meantime the loopholes undermined international efforts to implement the UN embargo.
| Aug. 5, 1999
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Will UN realpolitik handicap the UN Angola Sanctions Committee’s Expert Panels?

The latest report by the Chairman of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee on Angola(1), whilst containing some solid recommendations to improve embargo implementation shows worrying signs that realpolitik within the UN system may already have got to work.
| June 8, 1999
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Is the UN getting tough on sanctions and the diamond trade?

Further to the imposition of a range of UN sanctions on Unita, including the 1 July 1998 embargo on unofficial Angolan diamonds, the Chairman of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee has issued a ‘Report on the Chairman’s visit to Central and Southern Africa, May 1999’ (Document S/1999/644) (1), after visiting the region, with recommendations which if implemented could go a long way to addressing the problems of sanction implementation.
| Dec. 16, 1998
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Why De Beers could and should be doing better

“De Beers’ press release of the 15 December entitled “Response to the Global Witness Report ‘A Rough Trade’1 fails to address key concerns raised in the report, and by the international press, and is an inadequate and disappointing response.” Charmian Gooch, Campaigner, Global Witness2. Will De Beers clarify the number of changes they have made to their operating structure to ensure that no unofficial Angolan diamonds are being acquired by the Central Selling Organisation? This is a key point, which the company’s press release has totally failed to address, because:

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