Precious gemstones miner Gemfields is stepping up efforts to increase transparency across the entire supply chain amid fresh allegations of human rights abuses at its Montepuez ruby mine in Mozambique, which has cost it a lawsuit filed last week in London’s High Court.
Leigh Day, the London-based law firm representing over 100 locals, said security forces employed by the miner — which describes itself as “a leading supplier of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones” — shot, beat and subjected to humiliating treatment and sexual abuse to its clients.
It also said the claimants, which include family members representing four people who were killed, were unlawfully detained and forced to carry out menial labour.
The world's top coloured gems producer is adopting a new technology to further drive transparency in the sector.
Together with denying such accusations, Gemfields, which publicly opposes to any form of violence or abuse, is trying hard to get some sparkles back into its name.
The UK miner, the world's top coloured gems producer accounting for roughly a third of the global supply of emeralds and rubies, is adopting a new technology to further drive transparency in the gemstone industry.
“The coloured gemstone industry is ancient, and perhaps as a result, is often viewed as fragmented and opaque,” Jack Cunningham, Head of Sustainability at Gemfields, told MINING.com.
“Many individuals have benefited at the expense of others; with expert knowledge, the buyers and traders in particular were — and still are — in a very strong position to defend their positions in the industry without anyone, up or down the supply chain, being able to challenge them,” Cunningham said.
That’s why Gemfields is incorporating a synthetic nano-technology, which acts as “the DNA” of...