|
What is The Kimberley Process?
Conflict diamonds came to the attention of the world media during the extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone in the 1990s. The UN, governments, the diamond industry and non-governmental organizations (such as Global Witness, Amnesty International and Partnership Africa Canada), recognized the need for a global system to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond supply chain and thus helping to fund conflict.
They developed an agreement called the Kimberley Process, which requires participating governments to ensure that each shipment of rough diamonds be exported/imported in a secure container, accompanied by a uniquely numbered, government-validated certificate stating that the diamonds are from sources free of conflict.
Under the Kimberley Process, diamond shipments can only be exported and imported within co-participant countries in the Kimberley Process. No uncertified shipments of rough diamonds will be permitted to enter or leave a participant's country. This ring-fences conflict diamonds and as such ensures they are unable to enter the legitimate diamond supply chain and thus, cannot be used for illegitimate purposes.
In November 2002, 52 governments ratified and adopted the Kimberley Process Certification System, which was fully implemented in August of 2003.
Today, 69 governments, in partnership with the diamond industry and NGOs, are committed and legally bound to the UN-mandated process. Kimberley Process participants currently account for well over 99% of the global production of rough diamonds.
Kimberley Process participants undergo periodic reviews, along with peer monitoring to ensure compliance. Furthermore, all rough diamond sales are independently audited, and are also subject to separate governmental regulations. Any country that is found not to be in compliance can be sanctioned by the Kimberley Process.
All countries that are participants of the Kimberley Process are closely monitored. A recent Kimberley Process Review Mission to Brazil noted anomalies and weaknesses within the country's procedures. The Brazilian Government took definitive action by suspending its official exports of rough diamonds and is in the process of working with the Kimberley Process to remedy the situation as soon as possible.
Kimberley Process Requirements
- Each shipment of rough diamonds crossing an international border must be:
- Transported in a tamper-resistant container
- Accompanied by a government-validated Kimberley Process Certificate
- Each certificate must be resistant to forgery, uniquely numbered and describe the shipment's contents
- The shipment can only be exported to another Kimberley Process participant country
- It is illegal for uncertified shipments of rough diamonds to either be imported or exported by a Kimberley Process member country
- Failure to comply with these procedures can lead to confiscation or rejection of parcels and/or criminal sanctions
- If any concerns arise regarding a country's adherence to the Kimberley Process, they are investigated and dealt with quickly and thoroughly at an intergovernmental level
System of Warranties
Under this system, which has been endorsed by all Kimberley Process participants, all buyers and sellers of both rough and polished diamonds must make the following affirmative statement on all invoices:
"The diamonds herein invoiced have been purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations Resolutions. The undersigned hereby guarantees that these diamonds are conflict free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds."
All members of the trade who provide such assurances should keep records of both their customer warranties and their System of Warranties statements from their suppliers. This flow of warranties in and out must be audited and reconciled on an annual basis by the company's own auditors. If asked for by a duly authorized government agency, these records must be able to prove that the supplier is in compliance with the Kimberley Process.
Failure to abide by the aforementioned principles exposes the member to expulsion from industry organizations. Under the terms of the Kimberley Process, it will be considered a violation to issue a warranty declaration on a sales invoice unless it can be corroborated by warranty invoices received for purchases. Failure to adhere to these principles will prompt investigation and could result in expulsion from the various diamond industry institutions.
INDUSTRY STANCE ON CONFLICT DIAMONDS
Under the Kimberley Process, rough diamonds are sealed in tamper resistant containers and certified conflict-free by a strict system of forgery-resistant documents and serial numbers. This documentation is re-certified each time a rough diamond crosses an international border.
Diamond traders that do not comply with the Kimberley Process are breaking the law in participant countries.
To further safeguard the legitimate diamond supply, companies selling diamonds must provide a written
statement to all retailers declaring that their diamonds are from sources free from conflict. Retailers are required to source their diamonds only from suppliers who have provided this assurance.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO ELIMINATE CONFLICT DIAMONDS?
WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?
Because of the Kimberley Process, more than 99% of all diamonds are from sources free from conflict.
But the diamond industry will not stop until every conflict diamond is eradicated.
HOW TO BUY WITH CONFIDENCE
● Always buy from a reputable jeweler like Arthur’s.
● Your jeweler should be able to answer the following questions:
• How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds?
• Do you know whether your diamond suppliers participate in the System of Warranties?
• Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
The UN, governments, NGOs, and the industry continue to work together to improve the Kimberley Process and the international monitoring of the process so that the goal of zero conflict diamonds can be reached.
The industry is committed to diamonds being used to provide real benefits to the communities where they are sourced.
To learn more about the industry’s efforts to eliminate conflict diamonds and how these assurances are creating prosperity for Africa visit www.diamondfacts.org.
|
Learn more about Diamonds. |
|
| 
