Campaign to Eliminate Conflict Diamonds to Hold Press Conference on Passage of Clean Diamonds Trade Act

Media Contact Amy Parodi
253.815.2386 (o) 253.709.3190 (c)

What: Press Conference to Hail Enactment of The Clean Diamond Trade Act
When: April 9, 2003 at 12:30 p.m.
Where: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 215

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2003—The Campaign to Eliminate Conflict Diamonds, a coalition of more than 150 human rights, humanitarian, and faith organizations and a bi-partisan alliance of Senators and Representatives will come together on April 9, 2003 to announce the passage of legislation aimed at ending the trade in Conflict Diamonds. The press Conference will take place at 12:30 p.m. in Room 215 at the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

The Clean Diamonds Trade Act, represents the fruition of more than three years of efforts by Congress, the Executive, Non Governmental Organizations and the U.S. diamond industry to choke off a key funding source for some of the world’s most brutal regimes, rebel groups, and extremist armed networks who use the resources to finance egregious human rights abuses.

The Clean Diamond Trade Act will enforce an international system known as the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, which will ensure that diamonds entering the United States are legally mined and traded, have not funded the commission of human rights abuses linked to wars, or have financed groups like al-Qaeda.

Among those invited to speak are several of the bill’s key sponsors including , Senators Charles Grassley (R-IA), Max Baucus (D-MT) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Russ Feingold (D-WI) and Judd Gregg (R-NH). From the House and Representatives Amo Houghton (R-NY), William Thomas (R-CA) and Charles Rangel (D-NY), Henry Hyde (R-IL) Tom Lantos, (D-CA) and Frank Wolf (R-VA).

Representatives of the Campaign to Eliminate Conflict Diamonds and Matt Runcie, President of Jewelers of America, representing the US and Global Diamond Industry will also make short remarks.

Organizations composing the Campaign’s steering committee include Amnesty International, USA, World Vision, U.S., Oxfam America, the Commission on Social Action of Reform Judaism and Catholic Relief Services.