Written Answers. - Human Rights Abuses.
Brian O'Shea
Question:
125
Mr. O'Shea
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will make a statement on the situation with regard to the connection between the trade in diamonds and the flagrant abuse of human rights in a number of African countries, in particular the Democratic Republic of Congo.
[21436/02]
The trade in diamonds and other natural resources has been linked to the continuation of conflict and the perpetration of human rights abuses in a number of African countries. While diamonds are rarely the sole cause, or even an initial cause, of conflicts in Africa, it is indisputable that both official and rebel armies consider the control of mineral-rich areas as a critical factor in conflicts. The exploitation of the resources can fund the acquisition of arms and, if the conflict endures, resource exploitation can become the primary interest of those who control them.
It has been established, for example, that control of diamond fields in Sierra Leone by the rebel RUF army prolonged a decade-long conflict which was synonymous with gross human rights abuses. The United Nations Security Council has recognised the link between diamonds and the continuation of conflicts by passing resolutions on Sierra Leone, Liberia and Angola which attempt to ensure that conflict or "blood" diamonds are not used as a source of war finance. The conflicts in these African countries are a key focus of the humanitarian aid provided each year by the Government through the Ireland Aid emergency relief and recovery assistance programmes.
An extensive examination of the link between the illegal exploitation of diamonds and other natural resources and the continuation of conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, has been carried out by a panel of experts appointed by the UN Secretary General at the request of the UN Security Council. The final report of the panel of experts, which was published last month, highlights the deeply troubling fact that the humanitarian situation in the DRC is at a critical level in areas where illegal exploitation of natural resources is carried out. The principal parties to the conflict have been implicated in the exploitation of natural resources, including diamonds, either to fund their war effort or to line the pockets of key political, business and military people. The illegal exploitation of resources has also been directly linked to human rights abuses in the DRC.
The task now for the international community is to sever the link between the exploitation of resources and the continuation of conflict in the DRC, and to this end the panel of experts report makes a number of recommendations. At a public meeting of the UN Security Council on 5 November 2002 to discuss the report, Ireland supported the panels recommendations, including those on the need to provide incentives for countries which cease the illegal exploitation of resources and adhere to the peace agreements they have signed, and, conversely, the need for sanctions on individuals, companies and countries which do not cease such exploitation and/or do not adhere to the various peace agreements they have signed. We have also supported the establishment of a mechanism to monitor the exploitation of the DRCs resources on an on-going basis in a bid to discourage those who would seek to continue conflict for personal gain.
While the UN Security Council has attempted to sever the link between diamonds and conflict through Security Council resolutions on individual conflict situations, it has long been recognised that a global approach is needed. At the initiative of African diamond producing countries in particular, producer and trading countries, industry and civil society have met in the "Kimberley process" to design an international certification system for rough diamonds. This process is directed at countries that produce, export and import rough diamonds.
Ministers and representatives of more than 50 countries, including Ireland, launched the internationally agreed Kimberly process certification scheme for rough diamonds through a joint declaration made at a special meeting in Interlaken, Switzerland, on 5 November. Under the Interlaken declaration Ireland and other participating countries have committed themselves to the simultaneous launch of the certification scheme beginning on 1 January 2003. An EU regulation to establish a community system of certification for the purposes of implementing the certification scheme is being finalised. It is our sincere hope that with the help of these measures the wealth generated in countries holding rich diamond resources can be redirected from conflict towards development programmes and the provision of basic health, water, sanitation, education and other services for their vulnerable people.
