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In today’s world of social justice and ecofriendliness, diamond and jewelry consumers wish to ensure that there has been no negative impact on people or the environment anywhere along the production chain from the diamond mine down to the sparkling engagement ring in a jewelry retailer.

Diamonds are a precious and valuable resource, and a number of conflicts have been fought to gain control over diamonds, or with warring parties using diamonds to fund conflicts. Hence the term ‘conflict diamonds‘ or ‘blood diamonds‘ became stain on this luxury product during the 1990s, despite estimated figure that ‘just’ 4% of diamonds came from a disreputable source. 4% was still too high a figure for the diamond industry, though, which came together with governments industry and civil society to launch the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

However, consumers should not be scared off of purchasing diamonds – undershadowed by the scourge of conflict diamonds is when diamonds are also a source of national wealth, put to use in a good manner. One need look no further than Botswana to demonstrate the positive effects of diamonds. Scroll down this page to read more about diamonds in Botswana.

Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

The Kimberley Process (KP) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds – rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones has fuelled decades of devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’. As of November 2009, the KP has 49 members, representing 75 countries, with the European Community and its Member States counting as an individual participant.

The Kimberley process began when Southern African diamond-producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000, to discuss ways to stop the trade in ‘conflict diamonds’ and ensure that diamond purchases were not funding violence.

In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution supporting the creation of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds. By November 2002, negotiations between governments, the international diamond industry and civil society organisations resulted in the creation of the The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The KPCS document sets out the requirements for controlling rough diamond production and trade. The KPCS entered into force in 2003, when participating countries started to implement its rules.

How does the Kimberley Process work?

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’ and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade. Under the terms of the KPCS, participating states must meet ‘minimum requirements’ and must put in place national legislation and institutions; export, import and internal controls; and also commit to transparency and the exchange of statistical data. Participants can only legally trade with other participants who have also met the minimum requirements of the scheme, and international shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a KP certificate guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.

The Kimberley Process is chaired, on a rotating basis, by participating countries. KP participating countries and industry and civil society observers gather twice a year at intersessional and plenary meetings, as well as in working groups and committees that meet on a regular basis. Implementation is monitored through ‘review visits’ and annual reports as well as by regular exchange and analysis of statistical data.

The Kimberley Process: unique and effective

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) has evolved into an effective mechanism for stemming the trade in conflict diamonds and is recognized as a unique conflict-prevention instrument to promote peace and security. The joint efforts of governments, industry leaders and civil society representatives have enabled the Kimberley Process (KP) to curb successfully the flow of conflict diamonds in a very short period of time. Diamond experts estimate that conflict diamonds now represent a fraction of one percent of the international trade in diamonds, compared to estimates of up to 15% in the 1990s. That has been the KP’s most remarkable contribution to a peaceful world, which should be measured not in terms of carats, but by the effects on people’s lives.

The KP has done more than just stem the flow of conflict diamonds, it has also helped stabilise fragile countries and supported their development. As the KP has made life harder for criminals, it has brought large volumes of diamonds onto the legal market that would not otherwise have made it there. This has increased the revenues of poor governments, and helped them to address their countries’ development challenges. For instance, some $125 million worth of diamonds were legally exported from Sierra Leone in 2006, compared to almost none at the end of the 1990s.

In 2006, a review of the KP confirmed its effectiveness, and recommended a number of actions to further strengthen the system in areas such as monitoring of implementation and strengthening internal controls in participating countries, as well as greater transparency in the gathering of statistical data.

What Should Diamond and Jewelry Consumers Do?

In a jewelry retail store, consumers should ask the staff about the source of diamonds or jewelry, and about any certification that accompanies their purchases. If buying online, most retailers provide a statement on their website concerning their policy regarding ‘conflict diamonds’ or the ‘Kimberley Process’.

Botswana

Botswana is home to the Jwaneng diamond mine, which is the richest diamond mine in the world. United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has singled out Botswana as a shining example of democracy, praising the country for its prudent financial management and for making the most out of diamonds for development.

“The government of Botswana in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s, post-independence, was so visionary. The leadership there was so devoted to building a country that would have the advantages that they wanted to see for their people after colonialism and finally ended. So they struck a hard bargain, and they created, essentially, a trust fund where a percentage of the revenues from the diamonds went into that fund, and then that fund was used to pave the roads. And if you’ve travelled in Botswana, you know that the roads are the best in Sub-Saharan Africa except for South Africa. And we can see the results year after year after year.”

Related posts:

1. Civil Society Groups Warn Effectiveness of Kimberley Process Compromised
2. Kimberley Process Opens Second Office at Dubai’s Almas Tower
3. Israel to Hold Kimberley Process Intersessional Meeting