In May 2000,
responding to a growing grassroots
movement on "blood diamonds,"
governments and the diamond industry came
together in the South African town of
Kimberley to combat the trade in diamonds
from conflict zones. The result of these
negotiations was the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme, setting up an
internationally recognized certification
system for rough diamonds and establishing
national import/export standards. In
November 2002, 52 governments ratified and
adopted the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme, which was fully
implemented in August 2003.
The Kimberley Process
was seriously flawed from the beginning.
The Kimberley system of "voluntary
self-regulation" on the part of the
diamond industry has meant a significant
lack of transparency and independent
monitoring efforts. The World Diamond
Council, initially established to
represent the diamond industry at the
Kimberley Process, has failed to
coordinate effective industry monitoring.
Governments, too, have been uninterested
in monitoring and regulating the diamond
trade. Some say the Kimberley Process
amounted to little more than a public
relations stunt for the diamond industry,
and recent reports by Global Witness and
other NGOs have found little evidence of
genuine attempts to deliver on industry
commitments.
Articles
An
Independent Commissioned Review Evaluating
the Effectiveness of the Kimberley Process
(April 2006)
The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme
(KPCS) has vastly reduced the market for
conflict diamonds, cutting off a major
source of funding for rebel groups and
militias involved in conflict. Despite
progress this Global Witness report
warns that the KPCS is still not a
“fully credible check on the
international movement of diamonds.” It
calls for individual countries to exercise
much greater scrutiny of their own
internal control systems and highlights
the need for much stronger checks on the
activities of private industry.
Making
it Work: Why the Kimberley Process Must Do
More to Stop Conflict Diamonds (November
15, 2005)
This Global Witness report
highlights flaws in the implementation of
the Kimberley Process. The systems of
controls put in place by governments to
prevent the trade in conflict diamonds are
poorly enforced and as a result, some
members of the diamond industry continue
to trade in conflict diamonds. Although
sanctioned by the Security Council,
diamonds mined in Liberia are traded in
Sierra Leone and Guinea, both Kimberley
Process participants. Furthermore, the
diamond trade in Ivory Coast helps fund
the rebel group Forces Nouvelles, which
contributes to the ongoing instability in
the region. Global Witness calls on the
Security Council to impose sanctions on
Ivorian diamonds.
The
Essential Guide to Implementing The
Kimberley Process (February, 2003)
The World Diamond Council (WDC)
publishes this guide that outlines the
steps that firms in the diamond industry
must take to effectively implement the new
system designed to eliminate the flow of
conflict diamonds.
Kimberley
Process Working Document (March 20, 2002)
The final document produced by the
Kimberley Process negotiations identifying
the core components of an international
certification scheme for rough diamonds.
Possibilities
for the Identification, Certification, and
Control of Diamonds (May 15, 2000)
This working report by Global Witness addresses
the issue of the diamond conflict by
providing an outline for certification of
the diamond trade.
2006
Triple
Jeopardy - Triplicate Forms and Triple
Borders: Controlling Diamond Exports from
Guyana (April 2006)
This Partnership Africa Canada
(PAC) report reveals that as much as 20
percent of Guyana’s diamonds - worth an
estimated US$43 million annually - are
smuggled illegally to Brazil and
Venezuela, both Kimberley Process
participants. According to PAC, this
illicit diamond smuggling system
undermines the Kimberley Process and
leaves the diamond industry “wide open
to laundered conflict diamonds from other
countries, such as Côte d’Ivoire and
the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
PAC calls for the expulsion of Brazil and
Venezuela from the world diamond trade
body if they cannot immediately bring
their diamond industries into proper
compliance with the Kimberley Process.
2005
Accord
on “Conflict Diamond” Smuggling
(November 15, 2005)
Diamond-producing countries and the
diamond industry gathered in Moscow at the
plenary meeting of the Kimberley Process
to discuss ways to eliminate trade in
conflict diamonds. The participating
countries unanimously approved a
resolution to stop the smuggling of
conflict diamonds from Ivory Coast. The
resolution calls for the monitoring of
diamond production in West Africa and the
profiling of all diamonds being exported
from the region. The Kimberley Process
will cooperate with the UN to monitor
diamond exports and to provide technical
assistance to West African countries. (Financial
Times)
2004
Controlling
Diamonds (November 29, 2004)
This Washington Post editorial
argues that although the Kimberley Process
"got off to a good start,"
Russia's 2005 chairmanship may jeopardize
the "fragile" certification
system. Governments and the diamond
industry lack transparency and
accountability, preventing the Kimberley
Process from effectively combating the
trade in conflict diamonds. Russia has
declined to publish diamond trade
statistics and countries such as the US,
Japan, China, Thailand, and Namibia have
refused to set dates for reviewers to
visit.
Déjà
Vu: Diamond Industry Still Failing to
Deliver on Promises (October 2004)
This report by Amnesty International
and Global Witness summarizes the
results of an ongoing survey evaluating
diamond jewelry retailers' compliance with
the Kimberley Process. The report
concludes that the diamond industry shows
a "continued lack of systematic
monitoring" to prevent trade in
conflict diamonds and that "voluntary
self-regulation" does not work.
South
Africa Shines in Diamond Compliance
(September 26, 2004)
A Kimberley Process delegation visited
South Africa after an invitation by the
government to monitor compliance in the
diamond industry. Of the process, a De
Beers spokesman said the world's largest
diamond producer is "100% supportive
in word and deed." (Sunday Times)
Congo
Suspended From World Diamond Trade (July
10, 2004)
The Kimberly Process expelled the Republic
of Congo from the legitimate international
diamond trade network because of its
continued sale of black market,
“blood” diamonds. The UN-backed
Commission accused the country of
illegally smuggling diamonds from
neighboring countries, thereby fueling
conflicts in the region. (Associated
Press)
2003
NGOs
Urge Greater Transparency of Diamond
Control (October 29, 2003)
Some governments in the Kimberley Process
diamond certification scheme are reluctant
to enact self-monitoring measures, arguing
that such measures fall outside the scope
of the initiative. Said one NGO
representative, "it is ironic that
there should be any objections, especially
since it's a voluntary system." (UN
Integrated Regional Information Network)
New
List of Kimberley Process Member Countries
(July 31, 2003)
This statement provides a list of the
countries that meet the minimum
requirements of the Kimberley Process
diamond certification scheme. (Rapaport
News)
Africa's
Diamond Trade Seen as No Longer So Rough
(June 30, 2003)
More than 70 states have applied for full
membership to the Kimberley Process
diamond certification scheme. NGOs remain
concerned that acceptance of some states
still plagued by rebel-sponsored violence
will undermine the initiative. (Financial
Times)
UN
Backs Scheme to Block Blood Diamond Trade
(April 15, 2003)
The UN passed a resolution supporting the
ongoing Kimberley Process to curb trade in
conflict diamonds. Approximately 3,700,000
people have died during the past decade in
wars waged mainly for control of diamond
areas. (Environmental News Service)
The
First Real Test of the Kimberley Process
Is In The Central African Republic (March
18, 2003)
Global Witness wants to temporarily
suspend the Central African Republic from
the Kimberley Process. Since rebels have
seized power, the country is in violation
of Kimberley regulations and should be
banned from trading in diamonds, says a
campaigner.
Al-Qaeda
Funded by 'Blood Diamonds' (February 9,
2003)
David Crane, the chief prosecutor of the
UN special court for Sierra Leone, claims
that al-Qaeda uses “blood diamonds” to
fund its international operations. The
Kimberly process could limit al-Qaeda’s
exploitation of the diamonds, but Crane is
skeptical of the diamond industry’s
commitment to create an independent
certification system. (Ottawa Citizen)
'Blood
Diamond' Crackdown to Begin (January 28,
2003)
The Kimberley Process' punitive measures,
such as confiscating diamonds without
proper certification, will come into
effect starting February. Experts remain
skeptical about the impact of the process.
(Business Day)
2002
AFRICA:
EC Urged to Extend Regulations on Blood
Diamonds (November 21, 2002)
European diamond traders, including
Belgian and British companies, continue to
engage in trading conflict diamonds.
Global Witness calls for extending the
Kimberly regulations to the European
Commission (EC).(IRINnews)
Deadly
Diamonds (November 13, 2002)
The Kimberly process depends on the
cooperation of private dealers, the very
people who have been fueling "blood
diamond" conflicts for years. This
article reveals some inconsistent aspects
of the Kimberly process and its weak moral
stance. (Harvard Crimson)
Kimberley
Accord Marks First Success of Nepad
(November 13, 2002)
Propelled by significant common interests
and consensus among forty-five
governments, the Kimberly process
succeeded in its first phase. After the UN
General Assembly adopts the certification
process, the main challenges will be
adherence, compliance and monitoring. (Business
Day)
Jewellers
in Dark About Blood Gems (November 7,
2002)
European retailers and bodies like the
Antwerp High Diamond Council (HRD) are
unaware of the new Kimberley scheme. The
World Diamond Council and NGOs will make
efforts to educate sellers and buyers of
diamonds. (Business Day)
Diamond
Scheme Crystallizes but NGO Concerns
Remain (November 5, 2002)
While NGOs generally welcome the Kimberly
Process, a certification model that will
help stop the sale of diamonds used to
fund rebel wars, they express concern over
loopholes and the lack of independent
monitoring. (Reuters)
45
Countries Set to Back Rules Against
'Blood' Diamond Trade (November 4, 2002)
Representatives of 45 countries, which
include the United States, are to give
formal approval to the Kimberley Process,
a system to prevent 'blood' diamond trade.
The new rules have failed to provide a
detailed and credible self-regulation
system, say the advocacy groups that first
inspired the debate. (New York Times)
Diamonds
Still Drip Blood: Coalition Calls for
Immediate Reform of New Diamond
Regulations (November 4, 2002)
The Kimberly Process is necessary, but not
sufficient, to end the traffic of “dirty
diamonds,” says the US Campaign to
Eliminate Conflict Diamonds. To ensure
that diamonds are clean, the Process would
need an independent monitoring system. (Amnesty
International)
'Conflict'
Diamonds Spur Code of Practice (October
30, 2002)
World diamond industry leaders have
approved a self-regulated system of
diamond certification as stipulated by a
UN resolution. However, Global Witness
argues that the World Diamond Code (WDC)
fails to come up with a detailed audit
process. (Financial Times)
The
Kimberley Process: The Case for Proper
Monitoring (October 28, 2002)
Diamonds and Human Security Project
argues that the Kimberly Process'
provisions require much stronger
multilateral measures. Otherwise, it will
create a false sense of security, allowing
the conflict diamond trade to continue.
Canada
Takes Further Measures to Combat Illicit
Global Trade in Conflict (October 10,
2002)
Canada supports the Kimberley Process
certification scheme that is designed to
curb the global illicit trade in conflict
diamonds and cut off sources of rebel
funding in affected African countries. (Canadian
Corporate Newswire)
Scientists
Struggle to Identify Conflict Diamonds
(August 10, 2002)
Can chemistry and physics help to identify
conflict diamonds? This article explores
ways science could complement the
Kimberley Process. (Science News)
Brussels
Unveils Ban on African Blood Diamonds
(August 9, 2002)
The European Commission made public a
proposal banning imports of rough diamonds
without a certificate proving they are not
“conflict diamonds.” The NGO Global
Witness says that “the Commission's
proposals are stricter than the Kimberley
Process.” (Independent)
Agreement
Reached on 'Conflict Diamonds' (March 21,
2002)
Diamond industry representatives, human
rights groups and government officials
agree that all diamonds must come with
certificates of origin. The negotiations
known as the Kimberley Process began in
May 2000 and are aimed at preventing the
diamond trade from funding African civil
wars. (Associated Press)
NGO
Report on the Ottowa Kimberley Process
Meeting (March 20, 2002)
NGOs present a mixed review of the final
Kimberley Process agreement. NGOs continue
to advocate a regular, external,
independent monitoring mechanism;
governments who negotiated the agreement
were only willing to allow for monitoring
missions when there are "credible
indications of significant
non-compliance." (Partnership
Africa Canada)
Conflict
Diamonds- More Bad News (February 14,
2002)
A group of eight NGOs remind us that as
people give diamonds to their loved ones
on Valentine's day, they still have no way
of knowing where these diamonds come from,
or whether they have contributed to gross
human rights abuses. The "Report
Card," on the Kimberly Process
highlights the shortcomings in the
proposed certification system, described
as a "watchdog with no teeth." (Netherlands
Institute for Southern Africa)
2001
Can
Controls Work? (December 2001)
This briefing document by Global
Witness points out shortcomings in the
Kimberly Process proposals for
international diamond certification, with
specific reference to Angola. The
proposals lack measures for verification
and monitoring, which are crucial to
reducing illegal trade in conflict
diamonds.
Diamond
Diplomacy (November 29, 2001)
The Bush administration's has objected to
proposed international diamond
certification accords on the grounds of
free trade, thus threatening to undermine
the entire Kimberly process. It has also
pushed for the weakening of a bill in
Congress that would help to restrict the
flow of dirty diamonds into the US. (New
York Times)
End
to Trade in 'Conflict Diamonds' Moves
Closer (November 29, 2001)
After 14 months of negotiations, 32
countries approved a certification scheme
intended to curb the trade of rough
diamonds from conflict zones. The
agreement may result in greater
transparency within the diamond industry.(Financial
Times)
Plans
Against 'Conflict Diamonds' Spurred
(November 12, 2001)
Government representatives and diamond
producers will meet in Gabarone later this
month to finalize plans to end
international trade in conflict diamonds.
However, countries such as Namibia,
Botswana, and South Africa warn that any
agreement must include measures to protect
legitimate producers. (Agence France
Presse)
Progress
At Kimberley Process Meeting (November 2,
2001)
The world's major diamond producing and
trading companies have come close to
establishing an international protocol for
the certification of rough diamonds. The
agreement looks like it will proceed to
fruition, despite various member states'
concerns over state sovereignty, and US
reservations over whether the new
regulations will comply with WTO rules. (IRIN)
Kimberly
Process Delegates Adopt Conflict Diamond
Certification System (July 6, 2001)
Delegates from diamond importing countries
agreed to adopt “minimum acceptable
standards” for a certification system to
stem the trade of conflict diamonds. (Rapaport
News)
