What is the Kimberley Process?
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is an agreement set-up to eliminate the trade in conflict diamonds. The process was created in response to a civil society campaign that exposed the way in which diamonds funded conflicts and demonstrated how governments, civil society and industry can work together on conflict prevention. Currently, 69 countries participating in the process have passed and implemented national laws establishing import and export controls designed to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds. The KPCS requires that each signatory country must certify all rough diamond export as conflict-free and must allow rough diamond import only from other participating countries also certified as conflict-free. The KPCS must accompany all official shipments of rough diamonds to and from participating countries. Named after the city where the agreement was signed, the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was signed on April 30th, 2003. An update on the situation of Co
The flow of Conflict Diamonds has originated mainly from Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Ivory Coast. The United Nations and other groups are working to block the entry of conflict diamonds into the worldwide diamond trade. Their approach has been to develop a government certification procedure known as the “Kimberley Process”. This procedure requires each nation to certify that all rough diamond exports are produced through legitimate mining and sales activity. All rough diamonds exported from these nations are to be accompanied by certificates. These certificates state that the diamonds were produced, sold and exported through legitimate channels. The certification process accounts for all rough diamonds, through every step of their movement, from mine to retail sale. Retail customers buying a cut diamond are encouraged to insist upon a sales receipt that documents that their diamond originated from a conflict free source.
The Kimberley Process is a vital step toward impeding the trade of conflict diamonds. Conflict diamonds, also known as blood diamonds, are stones sold to finance violent rebel movements. Conflict diamonds have been linked to atrocities in Angola, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In order to put an end to financing violence, and to set consumers minds at ease about funding human rights violations, South African diamond producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa in May of 2000 to devise a solution. With the support of the United Nations, the diamond industry, world governments and NGOs went to work. Nearly two years of negotiations ultimately produced the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The scheme outlines strict standards for rough diamond trade to guard against conflict diamond trafficking. The Kimberley Process is made up of 43 states and regional economic integration organizations. Together, these participants account for approximately 99.8%
The Kimberley Process is a UN mandated international certification scheme aimed to prevent the trade of conflict diamonds while helping to protect the legitimate trade of rough diamonds. The Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the provisions by which the trade of rough diamonds is to occur. At Ice.com we comply with the Kimberley Process. What is Ice.com’s position on conflict diamonds? At ICE.com we source our diamonds from the world’s best, most respected and largest diamond suppliers. We make every effort, as do our suppliers, to ensure that we do not purchase or sell any conflict diamonds. We buy from suppliers who warrant that their diamonds are from sources free from conflict. We are committed to the highest standards on behalf of our customers.
