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Artisanal Diamond Cooperatives in Sierra Leone: Success or Failure?

Cooperatives are often proposed as a solution to the problems faced by artisanal diamond miners. This independent study looks at one attempt to introduce cooperatives in Sierra Leone’s Kono District.

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Expelled Diamond Diggers Robbed and Beaten by authorities

Partnership Africa Canada (PAC) has expressed its deep concern about growing human rights abuse affecting illegal Congolese migrants in Angola, and calls on the governments of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to deal with the problem according to international laws on migration and human rights.

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Other Facets , a periodic newsletter about the international effort to end diamond-related conflict.

In this issue:

• Venezuela shames Kimberley; mocks vacillating committees
• Merchant of death arrested; caught in classic sting operation
• Another warlord set for trial; Bemba arrest sends important signal
• DRC mining contracts review published
• Taylor’s missing millions
• Côte d’Ivoire: Conflict diamonds continue
• New DDI Publication on Sierra Leone

NOTE: This edition of Other Facets went to press early in June. It emphasizes the unresolved four-year problem of Venezuelan non-compliance with Kimberley Process minimum standards. On June 17 at the KP Intersessional Meeting in New Delhi, Venezuela voluntarily “separated” itself from the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for a period of up to 24 months. The Venezuelan ambassador to India invited the KP Chair to visit Venezuela to discuss the country’s efforts to revamp its diamond controls, and said that she hoped Venezuela would be able to rejoin the KPCS in due course.

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The APRM Monitor, a periodic newsletter about the implementation of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)

In this issue:

• The APRM moves forward: More countries embark on their governance reviews
• Countries make progress on implementing their national programmes of action: Extracts from the ECA APRM Update
• Reflections on the South African National Self–Assessment Process: A call for critical and principled participation by civil society
• Was the APRM process in Kenya a waste of time? Lessons that should be learned for the future
• Media Watch
• EISA APRM Toolkit for Civil Society

Other Facets , a periodic newsletter about the international effort to end diamond-related conflict.

In this issue:

• Taylor War Crimes Trial Begins: PAC’s Ian Smillie is First Witness
• Kimberley Process Annual Plenary: NGO Participation Increases – But Funding Problems Remain
• DDI Appoints Executive Director
• Venezuela Agrees to KP Visit
• Congolese Diamond Reforms Remain Elusive: Diamonds Earn Diggers $1 per Day
• Diamond Riches Contribute Little to Angolan Development: Management and Human Rights Problems Persist
• DDI Workshop in Sierra Leone: Standards & Guidelines an Important Step

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