What is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)? The Kimberley Process is a rough diamond certification scheme, established in 2003, in an effort to end the trade of conflict diamonds. All rough diamonds are only to be traded between member countries and be accompanied by a government issued Kimberley Process certificate.
Aren't all diamonds guaranteed conflict-free because of the KPCS? No. In theory the Kimberley Process would be a great idea for addressing the ethical impact surrounding conflict diamonds. The greatest drawback to the Kimberley Process is the lack of enforcement or regulation. Any claim that the Kimberley Process guarantees the consumer that they’re purchasing a clean diamond cannot be verified with substantial direct or indirect evidence. It has now been proven that the Kimberley Process has failed us.
Rapaport Reports:
Over the past three years, the national army has visited appalling abuses on civilians in Marange's diamond fields in Zimbabwe. However, on August 12, 2010, The Kimberley Process (KP) certified approximately 900,000 carats of rough diamonds from Marange, Zimbabwe. Which are now on the international market that will be purchased by the unassuming diamond consumer.
Click here for more information: http://www.diamonds.net/cms/Zimbabwe/default.aspx
Global Witness Reports:
"A Unified Nations Group of Experts on Cote d'lvoire has recently found that poor controls are allowing significant volumes of blood diamonds to enter the legitimate trade through Ghana, where they are being certified as conflict free through the KP."
Why it doesn’t work:
Two major flaws still hinder the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process:
(1) the relative ease of smuggling diamonds across African borders, and
(2) the violent nature of diamond mining in nations that are not in a technical state of war and whose diamonds are therefore considered "clean".
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is the lack of enforcement or regulation. Any claim that the Kimberley Process guarantees the consumer that they’re purchasing a clean diamond cannot be verified with substantial direct or indirect evidence.
What the KP is missing:
No environmental protection - The Kimberley Process is not a provision for protecting the environment.
* Ensure no dumping of mine wastes into the ocean, rivers, lakes, or streams.
* Ensure that projects are not located in protected areas, fragile ecosystems or other areas of high conservation or ecological value.
* Ensure that projects do not generate sulfuric acid in perpetuity.
* Cover all costs of closing down and cleaning up mine sites.
* Fully disclose information about social and environmental effects of projects.
No Fair Trade - The Kimberley Process does not guarantee fair and ethical labor practices
* Respect for basic human rights outlined in international conventions and law.
* Free, prior, and informed consent of affected communities.
* Safe working conditions.
* Respect for workers’ rights and labor standards.
* Ensure that operations are not located in areas of armed or militarized conflict.
* Ensure that projects do not force communities off their lands.
No Giving Back - Kimberley Process does not regulate money from the sale of these gems to be directed back to the community that it was mined from. Probably because since the KP does not work, they don't know where the diamond came from.
The biggest part is to have viable third party, verification system.
You might have seen a message like this when purchasing an earth mined diamond, but please do not be fooled. The Kimberley Process has failed us and there is no such thing as a "conflict free" diamond source.
Please click here to visit our blog for the latest shocking news and reports proving that conflict diamonds still flow through Kimberley Process compliant countries.
Click here for more information: http://www.diamonds.net/cms/Zimbabwe/default.aspx
