February 14, 2005

Loopholes in Customs Enforcement May Allow Conflict Diamonds into US Stores
Spot-checks on Imports Urged

(New York) - Amnesty International today warned Valentine's Day diamond shoppers that loopholes in US Customs enforcement may be allowing conflict diamonds into the United States. Conflict diamonds originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and that are used to fund conflict, civil wars and human rights abuses.

"Diamonds have been and continue to be linked to terrible human rights abuses, and concerns have mounted over links between such conflict diamonds and money laundering by groups like Al-Qaeda," said Mila Rosenthal, Director of Amnesty International USA's Business and Human Rights Program. "There have been positive steps toward protecting the legitimate diamond industry and diamond purchasers from contamination by conflict diamonds, but US Customs enforcement needs to be aggressive to end the flow of conflict diamonds."

As part of an ongoing campaign, Amnesty International members are petitioning US Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner, urging him to clarify whether there are periodic random checks of diamond imports and exports. Only through such spot-checks can the US satisfy the requirement of the Clean Diamond Trade Act to efficiently monitor diamond industry compliance with anti-conflict diamond measures. In addition, Amnesty International members are organizing nationwide events today, talking to employees and consumers at shopping centers, jewelry stores and department stores about what they can do to help stop the trade in conflict diamonds.

The current procedures for reviewing imports of diamonds only mandate reviewing and recording the information on the accompanying form, without any requirement to inspect the contents of the sealed diamond container. Such inspections would permit challenges to any inconsistencies between the form and the contents of the diamond container, such as a divergence between stated and actual weight.

Conflict diamonds have been responsible for funding bloody conflicts in Africa, resulting in the death and displacement of millions of people. A major milestone in the campaign to end the trade in conflict diamonds occurred in January 2003, when an internationally recognized system of self-regulation known as the Kimberley Process was introduced to cover the entire diamond supply chain, from mine to point of sale. Later that same year, Congress adopted the Clean Diamond Trade Act to provide further assurance that all diamonds sold in the US were conflict-free. Though there has been some progress in implementing these provisions, remaining weaknesses -- including the absence of periodic random checks of imports -- may be allowing conflict diamonds to enter the US.

Consumers can continue to play an important role in pressuring diamond jewelry retailers to follow through on commitments to combat trading in conflict diamonds. When they buy diamonds, customers should demand written warranties showing that the diamonds they are being sold are conflict free and not contributing to human rights abuses.

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Operational Procedures for the Importation of Rough Diamonds into the United States


For further information contact Mila Rosenthal at 212-633-4196

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