You have no doubt heard of conflict diamonds (more commonly known as “blood” diamonds). Maybe you saw the 2006 Leonardo DiCaprio film. Or perhaps you’ve heard about Naomi Campbell’s recent testimony at the war crimes trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor. But if you haven’t been informed on the subject, conflict diamonds are a product of African countries. They are rough (as opposed to cut and polished) stones that are used by rebel movements to finance wars against the standing governmental body, and they are most commonly obtained through murder. Hence the disturbing name. In short, they are both illegal and immoral. Enter the Kimberly Process.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is an international certification process adopted in 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly to ensure that countries across the globe are not involved in the sale and purchase of conflict diamonds, thereby unwittingly supporting militant groups. Currently, 75 nations representing over 99% of the diamond trade have signed on and agreed to the requirements of the Kimberley Process. And they have been joined by both the international diamond industry (the World Diamond Council) and civil society organizations (Global Witness, Partnership-Africa Canada).
The agreed upon terms basically state that in order to keep conflict diamonds from entering into the legitimate diamond trade, members of the Kimberley Process can only trade with other members. Further, participants must impose regulated controls on import and export (as well as internal trade) and submit to complete transparency by making statistical data available for perusal. These strict requirements have no doubt changed the industry and the way business is done, but if the process helps to stem the violence in countries at risk for militant activism, then most feel that it is worth the extra effort.
In fact, the Kimberley Process has nearly put a halt to the conflict diamond trade. Whereas 15% of diamonds freely traded throughout the world were considered to have roots in conflict during the height of the controversy (during the 1990s), it is now estimated that less than one percent of rough diamonds that make their way into the international trade are blood diamonds. So if you’re one of the many people who are concerned about the possibility of unknowingly purchasing a conflict diamond, you can be fairly certain that the diamond you buy is legitimate, thanks to the ongoing efforts of participants in the Kimberley Process.
