Rapaport Group Sets Human
Rights Standard
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Martin Rapaport defined the Rapaport Minimum Standard for human rights on August 25, 2010 at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai,
India as follows:
“All diamonds that are legal and not directly involved in severe human rights violations
should be freely, fairly and legally traded.”
Note: the phrase “directly involved in severe human rights violations” is defined
as diamonds whose physical production involved murder, rape, physical violence or
forced servitude.”
Rapaport discussed Marange diamonds, as well. While Kimberley Process- (KP) certified
Marange diamonds are legal in India and many other countries, there was no assurance
that they were free of human rights violations. Furthermore, KP-certified Marange
diamonds are not legal for purchase by U.S. and European Union (E.U.) entities due
to sanctions against their suppliers.
Read more about the Rapaport Minimun Standard
and the Marange diamond fields
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Rapaport Fair Trade Conferences
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Rapaport sponsors numerous activities and conferences throughout the year that introduce
and promote the idea of Fair Trade to members of the jewelry industry in developed
countries.
Past conferences:
JCK 2010
Baselworld 2010
Photo courtesy of Baselworld
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Rapaport International Diamond Conference 2010
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Rapaport International Diamond Conference
October 21, 2010
The Times Center
New York, NY
The afternoon session of the conference is entitled "Human Rights and the Diamond
Industry - The Way Forward" and will be devoted to finding reasonable and pragmatic
solutions to ethical problems confronting the diamond industry.
Conference Homepage
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About Fair Trade
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Rapaport Fair Trade Principles:
1. Fair Wages
2. Community Benefit
3. Do No Harm
4. Monitoring and Branding
The Rapaport Group is committed to supporting disadvantaged sectors of the jewelry
industry through the establishment of FairTrade and Fair Made diamond, gem and jewelry
products and markets.
The Group focuses on the artisanal mining sector by supporting fair trade standards
for diggers groups and cooperatives that produce artisanal diamonds, gems and gold
in Sierra Leone and other developing countries. Additional activities supporting
fair trade standards for disadvantaged workers producing Fair Made jewelry in South
Africa and other countries are also taking place.
The Rapaport Group takes a strong proactive role promoting and implementing corporate
responsibility programs around the world.
Rapaport’s corporate responsibility activities extend well beyond commercial activities.
We believe that the private sector has a critical and irreplaceable role to play,
driving sustainable economic development in the poorest countries of the world.
We are committed to using our economic power and strategic positioning in the diamond
and jewelry industry to help artisanal diggers and other disadvantaged groups obtain
economic self sufficiency.
The Rapaport Group regularly donates at least ten percent of profits to charity
and initiates programs to alleviate poverty in Africa and elsewhere.
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