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.

Filters

By campaign
By country

| March 30, 2004
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Broken Vows: Diamond Jewellery Retailers Fall Short on Conflict Diamond Pledge

Major United States (US) and international retailers selling diamond jewellery are falling short on their promises to combat the trade in conflict diamonds, according to a new report by Global Witness released today at a World Diamond Council Annual Meeting in Dubai.(1)
| July 31, 2003
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Kimberley Process Finally Agrees Membership List But Lack Of Monitoring Undermines Credibility

A global coalition of non governmental organizations working with the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) for rough diamonds has welcomed the publication of a new list of participating countries. The list excludes those countries that failed to meet the minimum requirements of the scheme. But NGOs stressed that without adequate monitoring of the KPCS there is no way of ensuring that countries are actually halting the trade in conflict diamonds.
| July 4, 2003
Bush Must Deliver on Transparency and Conflict Resources in Africa

From 7-12 July 2003, President Bush will visit five African countries (Botswana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Uganda) to demonstrate the United States’ commitment to helping the continent address its most pressing problems, including regional conflicts, economic development and promotion of democracy. Global Witness believes that if the US is serious about tackling conflict and human rights abuses and promoting development, the misappropriation of Africa’s natural resources must be top of Bush’s agenda.
| June 27, 2003
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Will the Diamond Industry Live up to Its Promises?

In the lead up to a major diamond industry meeting next week, Global Witness is calling on key organizations within the diamond sector to live up to promises made to eradicate the trade in conflict diamonds. The conflict diamond issue will be taken up at the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) biennial President’s Meeting to be held in Sun City, South Africa, from 29 June 2003 to 2 July 2003.
| June 11, 2003
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Kimberley Process Undertakes First Review Mission To The Central African Republic

The Kimberley Process will carry out its first official review mission from 8-14 June 2003 to determine whether the Central African Republic is taking effective actions to stop the trade in conflict diamonds - diamonds which are used to finance conflicts and civil wars. Global Witness, a member of the review mission, welcomes this action as an important step to ensure that the Central African Republic is meeting the requirements of the Kimberley Process.
| May 30, 2003
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Strong Leadership by G8 Countries Needed to Stop Diamonds from Funding International Terrorism

In the lead up to the Group of 8 (G8) Summit, Global Witness is calling on G8 governments to combat the financing of international terrorism by taking concrete steps to prevent al Qaeda and other terrorist entities from using diamonds to finance their activities. Tackling international terrorism is one of the four major themes to be focused on at the G8 Summit scheduled for 1-3 June 2003 in Evian, France.
| April 30, 2003
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Kimberley Process Still In Process

JOHANNESBURG: Representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) attending the First Plenary Meeting of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) welcomed international commitment to take additional effective steps to break the link between diamonds and human rights violations and conflict in Africa. However, governments failed to take action on an element critical to the credibility of the Scheme – the need for regular, independent monitoring of all participants, to ensure that the process is not subject to abuse.
| April 25, 2003
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
Conflict Diamond Process Faces Credibility Test: NGOs Call On Governments To Strengthen Efforts To Eliminate Conflict Diamonds

A global coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is calling on governments participating in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) to ensure that the scheme has credibility and helps stop the trade in conflict diamonds. NGOs are calling on governments to strengthen their efforts in the lead up to the Kimberley Process plenary scheduled for 28-30 April in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting will be the first since the KPCS came into force on 1 January 2003.
| April 17, 2003
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
For a Few Dollar$ More: How al Qaeda Moved into the Diamond Trade

Global Witness today launches a detailed report into the links between the diamond trade and international terrorism. The report exposes how al Qaeda devised and carried out a ten-year strategic move into the unregulated diamond trade. It details how al Qaeda easily infiltrated diamond trading networks, by taking advantage of illicit trading structures, weak government and trade regulations. It also organised criminal networks and politically corrupt regimes to raise funds for al Qaeda operatives and to launder significant sums of money.
| March 18, 2003
- Diamonds
- Responsible Minerals
The First Real Test of the Kimberley Process Is In The Central African Republic

Due to the serious political turmoil currently facing the country, Global Witness is calling on the Chair of the Kimberley Process to temporarily suspend the Central African Republic’s participation in the Kimberley Process.

Show Previous 10 Show Next 10