Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 04/2009

A Draft Convention on Illicit Trade in Precious Metals and Precious Gems

Jonas Hartelius

February 2009

EastWest Institute

Abstract

Unregulated or illegal production and trade in precious metals and gems often fund conflicts, and without an overarching legal structure, efforts to curb illegal trade have had limited success. The EastWest Institute and the Swedish Carnegie Institute commissioned Jonas Hartelius, Senior Fellow at EWI and Scientific Adviser to the SCI, to help fill the legal gap and draft a proposed convention for the U.N.