Natural Resources and Violent Conflict - WaterWiki.net

216 philippe le billonand security of affected populations before the political agendas andprofits of their domestic elites, businesses, and consuming countries.In terms of development and conflict prevention, such reforms wouldcover issues of economic diversification and greater access to internationalmarkets, commodity price stabilization and buffer mechanisms,environmentally and socially sound management of resource exploitation,and accountability of resource revenue distribution.In terms of conflict termination, such reforms should focus oncurtailing the use of natural resources—or so-called conflict resources—to finance belligerents (see box 6.1). The economic value of these transactionsmay not always be large in global terms, but it is generallysignificant in local contexts and for business interests or criminal networksinvolved in laundering money.This chapter examines international instruments of enforcementrelating to the trade of conflict resources—conflict trade—with theBox 6.1 Defining Conflict ResourcesConflict resources are natural resources whose control, exploitation,trade, taxation, or protection contribute to, or benefit from the contextof, armed conflict.Conflict goods are “nonmilitary materials, knowledge, animals, orhumans whose trade, taxation, or protection is exploited to finance orotherwise maintain . . . war economies. Trade can take place by directimport or export from the conflict zone or on behalf of military factions(government and nongovernment)” (Cooper 2001, p. 27).Conflict timber is “timber that has been traded at some point in thechain of custody by armed groups, be they rebel factions or regularsoldiers, or by a civilian administration involved in armed conflict or itsrepresentatives, either to perpetuate conflict or take advantage of conflictsituations for personal gain . . . . Conflict timber is not necessarilyillegal, as the legality (or otherwise) of timber is a product of nationallaws” (Global Witness 2002, p. 7).Conflict diamonds are “rough diamonds used by rebel movements ortheir allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments,as described in relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC)resolutions insofar as they remain in effect or in other similar UNSCresolutions which may be adopted in the future, and as understood andrecognized in United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution55/56, or in other similar UNGA resolutions which may be adopted infuture” (see www.kimberleyprocess.com).