precious stones, saying, “How come you used to find stones when you were digging for personal benefit?”116 Forced Child Labor In violation of international law, children in Marange are being forced to work without pay under the most arduous of conditions. A local lawyer told Human Rights Watch that his organization had received credible information leading him to conclude that as of February 2009 at least 300 children continued to work for soldiers in the diamond fields.117 According to 10 children (seven boys and three girls of ages ranging from 12 to 17 years) whom Human Rights Watch interviewed, soldiers forced the children at different times from December 2008 to February 2009 to work in the diamond fields. The children carried diamond ore from the field and assisted women to sieve and select the precious stones. They worked up to 11 hours each day with no pay or reward for their labor.118 Two women, who were among a group of villagers forced to dig for diamonds for three weeks in December 2008, told Human Rights Watch: The soldiers were armed and guarded us every day while we worked in the fields. Each day we worked for 11 hours, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., without a break. Men did the digging, while women and children carried the ore from the field to a source of water—either a borehole well or a stream. Women and children were also responsible for sieving the ore and selecting the precious stones. But all the time, the armed soldiers would be standing close by, on guard and ready to take the diamonds we selected. We worked together with about 30 children of ages between 10 and 17 years. The children worked the same 11 hours each day as adults did. The soldiers had a duty roster for all villagers in Chiadzwa to take turns to work in the fields, irrespective of age.119 116 Human Rights Watch interviews with villagers B.M., F.M., B.K., F.C. and M.M., Marange, February 20, 2009. 117 Human Rights Watch interview with lawyer M.B., Mutare, February 19, 2009. 118 Human Rights Watch interviews with 10 children, Mutare, February 21 and 22, 2009. 119 Human Rights Watch interviews with two women C.C. and F.C., Marange, February 21, 2009. 39 Human Rights Watch | June 2009