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JA Reaffirms Stance on Zimbabwe and Conflict Diamonds

Jewelers of America (JA) released a position statement today detailing the association's commitments to responsible diamonds, with a special section dedicated to its stance on Zimbabwe and the controversy surrounding its mining practices.

"Jewelers of America is deeply concerned about the reported human rights violations in the Marange region of Zimbabwe," the statement reads. "Currently, under the KPCS, shipments of rough diamonds from the Marange region of Zimbabwe are suspended and exporting those diamonds is illegal. Jewelers of America strongly supports this position."

The JA states that it strongly opposes any diamond shipments from Marange and the compromising of KP certificates to trade illegally.

"We will do what we can, within our spheres of influence, to ensure the law is upheld," the statement reads.

Further, the JA stressed that a suspension of all legal diamond exports from Maranage is in place until a KP Monitor is appointed. The World Diamond Council (WDC) is among the organizations declaring that the process to appoint such a monitor be expedited.