There was a question what is the kimberley process? The Kimberley Process is a common initiative by governments, non-governmental organizations and the diamond industry to stop the trade in conflict diamonds. These are diamonds sourced from areas where governments have not been recognized or their revenues have been used to finance armed conflict.
The process has 49 participants, each representing major diamond-exporting and importing countries around the world. It imposes extensive requirements on its members for import and export control.
The Kimberley Process
The Kimberley Process (KP) is a multilateral trade regime that was created to stem the flow of conflict diamonds around the world. The process was designed to prevent smuggling and corruption in the diamond industry, while maintaining its integrity and promoting transparency in international trade.
The KP is a global body that brings together administrations, civil society and industry to combat the trade of rough diamonds from conflict zones. Its members are responsible for reducing the flow of conflict diamonds, which it defines as ‘rough diamonds used to finance wars against governments’.
While the KP has been successful in stopping the trade of conflict diamonds, it is not a foolproof system. Even though the diamond industry is committed to the KP, corruption and smuggling still exist.
To avoid the risk of supporting conflict diamonds, you should consider a lab-grown diamond. These are chemically, physically and optically identical to earth-mined diamonds. They are also more affordable than earth-mined diamonds.
Kimberley Process Participants
The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that sets the rules that govern trade in rough diamonds. It is currently implemented in 59 participating countries, representing 85 countries (the European Union and its 27 Member States count as one participant).
A country can become a Participant of the KP if it meets the minimum requirements set by the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. It must then put in place national legislation and institutions; export, import and internal controls; and commit to transparency and the exchange of statistical data.
However, even countries that have met the minimum requirements to become a KP Participant still face challenges in the implementation of the process. For example, illegal mining and smuggling practices remain widespread in countries such as Zimbabwe.
These diamonds are often mixed in with legitimate rough stones that are then exported from the mines and sold on the market. This can mean that it is difficult to tell which diamonds came from legitimate sources and which ones are conflict-free.
Kimberley Process Certification
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is an international scheme to stop the trade in lab grown diamonds and ensure that diamond purchases do not finance violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments. It is a joint government, industry and civil society initiative to address the ‘blood diamond’ problem.
The KPCS lays down a number of requirements that participating states must implement in order to certify their rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’ and to prevent them from entering legitimate trade. It requires participants to satisfy minimum requirements, establish national legislation and institutions, and imposes strict import/export controls.
The KPCS is an important step in the battle against ‘blood diamonds’. However, it can also be criticized for its ineffectiveness. This has led many normally supportive countries to question the process’s credibility and relevance.
Kimberley Process Monitoring
The Kimberley Process is an international diamond-restricting scheme that was founded in 2003 to reduce the flow of “conflict diamonds” into legitimate trade. The scheme is not treaty-based and depends on each Participant government establishing a system of internal controls to ensure that rough diamond shipments are traceable, as well as committing to transparency and the exchange of statistical data.
The scheme has made a valuable contribution to improving monitoring of the diamond trade worldwide. This includes providing detailed maps of diamond deposits in producing countries, which are invaluable in ensuring that local communities are able to make the best use of their resources.
However, despite its good intentions, the Kimberley Process has been found to lack the necessary institutional mechanisms to identify violations of its standards and hold member states accountable for noncompliance. It also provides little independent oversight, and has yet to address a number of critical human rights concerns relating to the diamond trade.