The resolution also stresses the importance of the Kimberley Process and encourages further strengthening of its activities to improve its effectiveness and contribute to peacebuilding and international peace. It also calls for a multi-donor trust fund and dedicated secretariat for the Kimberley Process. However, the resolution does not address all aspects of the Kimberley Process.
NGOs
The Kimberley process is a multi-stakeholder initiative that was launched in 2003 to combat the trade in conflict and blood diamonds. This study examines the continued influence of NGOs in this global regulatory scheme. While the Kimberley Process is an important development, there are still some challenges that remain.
The kimberley process is led by the European Union, and India is the vice chair. Its next meeting will be in Antwerp in June. A recent radio documentary, Zimbabwe’s Diamond Fields, exposed the human rights violations that have taken place in this region. In this documentary, Kimberley Process representatives denied any knowledge of the killings and tortures that had been filmed. They said that their meetings in the field were brief and that they had no means of conducting in-depth investigations.
NGOs were able to influence KP operations through their network. In some cases, these NGOs even gained access to the negotiations. They served a dual role as internal and external watchdogs.
Countries that participate in the Kimberley Process
The Kimberley Process is a global initiative that has been in effect since 2003. Israel was the first country to issue a certificate under the initiative. Every year, a forum is held in a different country to discuss the trade in conflict diamonds. Israel held the position of Chair in 2010 and hosted several conferences. The process is criticized by some analysts as being too weak to prevent diamonds from being traded illicitly.
Countries that participate in the Kimberley Process are required to adhere to minimum requirements that govern the diamond trade. This includes export controls and statistical data exchange. Only countries that have met these requirements can legally trade with one another. They must also include a Kimberley Process certificate in international shipments of rough diamonds.
The KPCS is headed by a chair who oversees the program’s implementation and operations. The chair is elected annually at the plenary meeting and reports on the progress of the various working groups. The chair also reports to the council on problems and issues that may arise in the implementation of the process.
Impact of the Kimberley Process on diamond trade
The Kimberley Process has been instrumental in reducing the amount of conflict diamonds that are traded, as well as improving working conditions for miners. It has also helped end armed conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Zimbabwe, and the Republic of the Congo. The process also aims to return a minimum percentage of diamond revenues to mining communities, which would alleviate poverty.
While the Kimberley Process promised to protect the environment and promote good business practices, some analysts have been skeptical about its effectiveness. Some African nongovernmental organizations have called it a “toothless watchdog.” Jakkie Celliers, director of the Institute for Security Studies in South Africa, wrote a book titled “Blood Diamonds: The Hidden Truth About Diamond Trade in Africa,” which describes the diamond trade as a “dark, dirty business” that benefits profiteers, but not the victims.
The Kimberley Process is an international certification system based on government-backed standards that requires diamond producers to provide a government-backed certificate of origin. Without such a certificate, diamonds from countries outside of the Kimberley Process are prohibited from entering the international diamond trade. Currently, 58 countries have signed on to the Kimberley Process and agree to allow only diamonds produced by members of the scheme.
Limitations of the Kimberley Process
The Kimberley Process has a number of shortcomings, including its lack of transparency and its failure to address wider issues surrounding conflict diamonds. It is focused on preventing the mining and distribution of conflict diamonds, and neglects to address worker exploitation and human rights issues. It is also limited in its scope, covering only rough diamonds, and not polished diamonds.
The process is still in its infancy, and many of its participants have already resigned from it due to its problematic workings. Others, such as Ian Smillie, Martin Rappaport and Global Witness, have left it in protest. Global Witness is also no longer an official observer, which is problematic because of its failure to deal effectively with violations.
Conclusion
Although the Kimberley Process is open to all countries, it does have its limits. As a result, some countries are not eligible for certification, and are excluded from participation. The European Union, for example, is not a member of the Kimberley Process, but is considered a single participant.
