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Zimbabwean Human Rights Activist Farai Maguwu to Speak at Rapaport Las Vegas Conference
Maguwu to Address Attendees on Sunday, June 3, 2012
May 7, 2012 10:43 AM
By Rapaport
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RAPAPORT... Press Release, May 7, 2012, New York: Farai Maguwu, the award winning Zimbabwean human rights activist, will lead a special session at the Rapaport Fair Trade Jewelry Conference on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 10:00 am in the Banyan Room, Mandalay Bay Hotel during the JCK Las Vegas Jewelry Show. Mr Maguwu will also speak briefly at the Rapaport Breakfast, South Seas Ballroom at 8:30 am. There will also be a special luncheon honoring Farai Maguwu at 12 noon of the same day.
Mr. Maguwu, Director of the Center for Research and Development in Zimbabwe, has been at the forefront of human rights advocacy in Zimbabwe. He has risked his life and freedom to inform the world of the horrific human rights abuses taking place in the Marange diamond fields.
In May 2010, Maguwu’s house was raided by Zimbabwean authorities and he was arrested on false charges after giving information to the Kimberley Process monitor. Despite being sent to prison and denied proper medical care for over a month, Maguwu emerged dedicated and committed to ensuring the rights of Marange diggers. In November 2011 Maguwu was honored by Human Rights Watch with the Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism.
“Farai Maguwu is a true human rights hero who has risked his life to protect the lives, freedom and human rights of diamond diggers. He is someone that every ethical person in the diamond industry should support, honor and emulate. As an industry and as individuals we must stand up and proclaim that the sanctity of life and the human rights of diggers are more important to us than diamond profits. I encourage every member of our industry to meet Farai Maguwu and support his goals,” notes Martin Rapaport, Chairman of the Rapaport Group.
The Rapaport Fair Trade Conference will be followed by a special lunch honoring Mr. Maguwu. Those wishing to participate can email fairtrade@diamonds.net, Space is very limited.
Those wishing to support the work of Mr. Maguwu are encouraged to make a donation to the Fair Trade Jewelry Association, a US registered 501c3 charity.
For more information about the Rapaport Fair Trade Conference, the special lunch or donations please contact Rapaport Fair Trade, +1-702-893-9400, email fairtrade@diamonds.net.
Rapaport Media Contacts: media@diamonds.net
International: Alissa Goren +1-718-473-0882<> U.S.: Sherri Hendricks +1-702-893-9400 <> Mumbai: Mittal Kalsy, +1-91-97699-30069
About the Rapaport Group: The Rapaport Group is an international network of companies providing added value services that support the development of free, fair and competitive global diamond markets. Established in 1978, the Rapaport Diamond Report is the primary source of diamond prices and market information. Group activities include publishing, research and marketing services, internet information and diamond trading networks, global rough and polished diamond tenders, diamond certification, quality- control, compliance, shipping, and financial services. Major activities of the group include the development of markets for Fair Trade Diamonds and Jewelry as well as the creation of diamond futures markets. Additional information is available at www.Rapaport.com.
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Tags:
, Rapaport
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