IX. Response of the International Community The international reaction to human rights abuses in Marange diamond fields has so far been relatively muted. In a somewhat encouraging response, in April 2009 the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) announced a ban on trade in Zimbabwe diamonds from Marange on the grounds of smuggling and human rights violations there.173 WFDB President Avi Paz called on the members of the 28 affiliated bourses “to take all measures necessary to ensure that they do not trade, directly or indirectly, in diamonds originating from the Marange deposit in Zimbabwe.”174 Paz further stated that “[t]he WFDB and its membership worldwide are committed to do all [they] can to prevent conflict diamonds from Zimbabwe or from any other source for that matter to be traded by our members.”175 Kimberley Process Certification Scheme Zimbabwe is a participant in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), which was established in 2003 to combat the trade in conflict diamonds.176 The KPCS defines conflict diamonds as rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments.177 In the strictest sense, due to the absence of armed conflict and the involvement of a rebel army or movement in Zimbabwe, Marange diamonds would not fall within KPCS definition of conflict diamonds. However, Human Rights Watch strongly believes that serious human rights abuses by security forces connected with diamond mining justify a more expansive interpretation of the KPCS’s mandate to include human rights issues. To formalize this extension of its mandate, the KPCS’s rules should be amended to unequivocally assert that human rights are a key concern for the KPCS. The preamble of the KPCS’s core document recognizes “the devastating impact of conflicts fuelled by the trade in conflict diamonds on the peace, safety 173 “World Body orders ban on Zim diamonds,” Mail and Guardian (South Africa), April 3, 2009, http://www.mg.co.za/article/2009-04-03-world-body-orders-ban-on-zim-diamonds (accessed April 15, 2009). 174 “WFDB calls on bourse members not to trade in diamonds from Marange deposit in Zimbabwe,” World Federation of Diamond Bourses, Antwerp, April 2, 2009, http://www.wfdb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=161&Itemid=86 (accessed June 3, 2009). 175 Ibid. 176 The origin of the KPCS is a United Nations General Assembly resolution in 2000 on the role of trade in conflict diamonds in fueling armed conflict. 177 Kimberley Process core document, http://www.kimberleyprocess.com (accessed April 20, 2009). 53 Human Rights Watch | June 2009