|
FOCUS |
|
|
| |
Rough diamonds
The Kimberley Process Certification
The Kimberley Process is a joint government, international diamond
industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict
diamonds - rough diamonds that are used by rebel movements to finance
wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit stones
has contributed to devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola,
Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is an innovative, voluntary
system that imposes extensive requirements on Participants to certify
that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds. The
Kimberley Process is composed of 45 Participants, including the
European Community. Kimberley Process Participants account for
approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds.
In May 2000, Southern African diamond producing states met in
Kimberley, South Africa, to come up with a way to stop the trade in
conflict diamonds and to ensure consumers that the diamonds that they
purchase have not contributed to violent conflict and human rights
abuses in their countries of origin.
In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a
resolution supporting the creation of an international certification
scheme for rough diamonds. In November 2002, after nearly two years of
negotiation, the efforts of governments, the international diamond
industry and NGOs culminated in the creation of the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme (KPCS). The KPCS outlines the provisions by which
the trade in rough diamonds is to be regulated by countries, regional
economic integration organizations and rough diamond-trading entities.
The KPCS imposes stringent requirements on all Participants to guard
against conflict diamonds entering the legitimate trade. Participants
are required to implement internal controls, as outlined in the KPCS
document, and all shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a
Kimberley Process certificate. The requirements for participation are
outlined in Sections II, V (a) and VI (8,9) of the KPCS. Participants
can only trade with other Participants who have met the minimum
requirements of the certification scheme.
While each Participant is required to implement the Kimberley Process
in their respective territories, sharing information and insight is an
integral part of making the certification scheme work. Annual Plenary
meetings are held to give Participants the opportunity to converse
with one another and with industry and civil society members to
improve the effectiveness of the regulatory regime.
Participants, industry and civil society representatives work together
in Working Groups - Monitoring, Statistics, Diamond Experts - and
Committees - Participation Committee and Selection Committee - to
ensure that the integrity of the certification scheme is upheld and
that the Kimberley Process moves closer to stopping the trade in
conflict diamonds. Today the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
has evolved into an effective mechanism for stopping the trade in
conflict diamonds.
The tireless efforts of governments, industry leaders and civil society
representatives have helped ensure that the horrors caused by conflict
diamonds may one day come to an end. But there remains much to be
done. All involved with the Kimberley Process continue to monitor and
assess the effectiveness of the certification scheme and strive
towards a world free of conflict diamonds.
|
Notice: Undefined variable: PATH_TRANSLATED in /home/gemsimport/public_html/english/diamonds/kimberley_process.php on line 142
Last update: 01/01/1970 01:00
|
|
|
B2B Links |
|
|
|
|
B2C Links |
|
|
|
|
B2B AREA |
|
|
|
Diamonds
