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JERUSALEM (AP) - The diamond industry must do more to safeguard human rights in Africa, keep the gems out of the hands of criminals and terrorists and address pressing issues of child labor and substandard work conditions and wages, leading industry officials said Thursday.
At the same time, speakers at the World Diamond Council conference said the industry has made great strides in curbing the use of diamonds to fund wars in Africa. The "Kimberley Process" requires certification to ensure gems do not come from illegal trade that supports conflicts.
Council chairman Eli Izakoff said "conflict diamonds" now account for only 0.2 percent of the world's rough diamond production, which has revenues of some $13 billion a year. He said that was down from 4 percent in 1999.
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