The Kimberley Process: Ensuring Conflict-Free Diamonds

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is a global initiative designed to prevent the trade in “conflict diamonds” or “blood diamonds.” These are diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance armed conflict against governments. Since its establishment in 2003, the Kimberley Process has played a critical role in regulating the international diamond trade and promoting ethical sourcing. However, it has faced criticism for its implementation and effectiveness, and calls for reform continue to shape its future.

What is the Kimberley Process?

The Kimberley Process was established in response to the growing international concern about the role of diamonds in funding violent conflicts, particularly in Africa. The term “blood diamond” gained prominence in the late 1990s after diamonds were linked to brutal civil wars in countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Angola. Rebel groups and warlords were known to use diamond revenues to buy weapons and fuel conflicts that resulted in immense human suffering.

The Kimberley Process itself is a certification system that aims to track the origins of rough diamonds from their extraction to their sale in the international market. Through the scheme, participating countries must implement strict regulations to ensure that diamonds sold in the global market do not finance conflict. The system is based on a certification system where participating countries certify that shipments of rough diamonds are conflict-free.

How Does the Kimberley Process Work?

The Kimberley Process relies on a series of steps to ensure that diamonds sold on the international market are conflict-free:

1. Certification: When rough diamonds are mined, the exporting country issues a Kimberley Process Certificate verifying that the diamonds have been mined and traded in compliance with the scheme’s requirements. This certificate is a necessary document for any shipment of rough diamonds being exported.
2. Tracking and Transparency: The certification is accompanied by a tracking system that follows the diamonds from the point of extraction through the supply chain to the final sale. This process helps identify the origin of the diamonds, making it difficult for conflict diamonds to enter legitimate markets.
3. International Cooperation: The Kimberley Process brings together governments, the diamond industry, and civil society organizations to ensure its implementation and compliance. It includes representatives from over 80 countries, as well as industry groups like the World Diamond Council, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that work on human rights and conflict prevention.
4. Sanctions and Compliance: Countries that fail to comply with the Kimberley Process can be suspended from the scheme. This serves as an incentive for countries to adhere to the standards and take action against the illicit diamond trade.

Achievements of the Kimberley Process

Since its creation, the Kimberley Process has made significant strides in curbing the trade of conflict diamonds. Some of its key achievements include:

• Reduction in Conflict Diamond Trade: The Kimberley Process has been largely credited with reducing the volume of conflict diamonds entering the global market. The scheme has been instrumental in creating a legal framework that makes it harder for rebel groups to profit from the diamond trade.
• Global Industry Cooperation: The initiative has brought together key stakeholders, including governments, the diamond industry, and civil society groups, to address a global problem. The involvement of the diamond industry, in particular, has ensured that major players in the market adopt practices that align with the goals of the Kimberley Process.
• Market Transparency: The certification process has increased transparency in the diamond supply chain. It is now more difficult for diamonds from conflict zones to be sold without detection, helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions.

Criticisms and Challenges

While the Kimberley Process has had a positive impact on reducing the trade in conflict diamonds, it has faced significant criticisms:

1. Implementation Gaps: One of the major criticisms of the Kimberley Process is that it lacks consistent enforcement. Some countries and regions have been accused of weak oversight and poor compliance. For example, diamonds mined in conflict zones may still be funneled through countries that do not have strong regulatory mechanisms.
2. Exclusion of Human Rights Violations: The Kimberley Process primarily focuses on preventing conflict financing, but it does not address broader human rights issues in the diamond mining industry. There have been reports of labor abuses, environmental destruction, and unsafe working conditions in diamond mines that fall outside the scope of the Kimberley Process. The system does not take into account whether workers are subjected to exploitation or child labor.
3. Loopholes: There are concerns that some countries and companies exploit loopholes in the system. For example, diamonds may be exported from a non-participating country and then transshipped through Kimberley Process-compliant countries, man made diamonds, making it difficult to track their true origin.
4. Ineffectiveness in Certain Regions: Despite its global reach, the Kimberley Process has not been successful in eradicating conflict diamonds in certain areas. For instance, diamonds from conflict zones like Zimbabwe’s Marange fields have been controversial. Although Zimbabwe was temporarily banned from exporting diamonds due to human rights abuses in the Marange mines, the ban was lifted in 2011, raising concerns about the Process’s ability to prevent diamonds from problematic regions from entering the market.

Calls for Reform

The limitations of the Kimberley Process have prompted calls for reform. Civil society organizations, including human rights groups and NGOs, argue that the certification system needs to evolve to address the broader issues of human rights abuses, environmental damage, and illegal trade. Some of the key reforms being proposed include:

• Broader Scope: Expanding the Kimberley Process to include human rights issues, such as child labor, unsafe working conditions, and environmental destruction, would help address the systemic problems in diamond mining.
• Stronger Enforcement: Strengthening the enforcement mechanisms of the Kimberley Process to ensure compliance by all participants is another key area for reform. More stringent monitoring and accountability are seen as crucial to closing loopholes and improving transparency.
• Inclusion of Civil Society Voices: Some advocates argue for a more active role for civil society groups within the Kimberley Process, including greater participation in decision-making and monitoring.

Conclusion

The Kimberley Process has made important strides in curbing the trade in conflict diamonds, promoting ethical sourcing, and increasing transparency in the global diamond industry. However, the system is not without its flaws, and its inability to address broader human rights issues, enforcement gaps, and loopholes has led to calls for reform. For the Kimberley Process to remain relevant in the evolving global economy, it must adapt to address these challenges and ensure that the diamond trade is not only conflict-free but also ethically sourced and environmentally responsible.