Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

History and Establishment of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

The KPCS was established in 2003 to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the mainstream rough diamond market.
It was established following recommendations in the Fowler Report and a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly.
The Fowler Report detailed how rebel movements and their allies were financing violence through the sale of diamonds.
A meeting of diamond-producing and trading states took place in Kimberley, Northern Cape in May 2000, leading to the origin of the KPCS.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2000, supporting the creation of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds.

The World Diamond Council created a System of Warranties that has been endorsed by all KPCS participants.
Under this system, all buyers and sellers of diamonds must make an affirmative statement on invoices guaranteeing that the diamonds are conflict-free.
It is considered a violation of the KPCS to issue a warranty declaration on a sales invoice without corroboration.
Diamond industry organizations have adopted principles of self-regulation, including trading only with companies that include warranty declarations and not buying diamonds from suspect sources.
The KPCS is chaired by an elected individual who oversees the working groups.
The working groups include the monitoring group, technical group, and statistics group.
The monitoring group ensures that participants are implementing the scheme correctly.
The technical group reports on difficulties in implementation and proposes solutions.
The statistics group reports diamond trading data.

As of July 2013, there were 54 participants in the KPCS representing 81 countries.
The KPCS has a diverse membership, including countries involved in diamond production and trading.
The participation of these countries is essential for the effectiveness of the certification scheme.
The KPCS aims to ensure that all countries involved in the diamond trade adhere to its regulations.
Republic of the Congo was removed from the KPCS in 2004 due to inability to prove the origin of its gems.
Côte d'Ivoire was prohibited from trading diamonds in 2005 due to conflict resources.
Venezuela voluntarily removed itself from the KPCS in 2008 after non-compliance.
Expulsion from the KPCS can have significant trade implications for countries economically dependent on diamond exports.

Global Witness is a London-based NGO and a key member of the KPCS.
They were one of the first organizations to bring the issue of conflict diamonds to international attention.
Global Witness abandoned the KPCS in 2011, stating that it failed to stop the flow of conflict diamonds.
Their report, 'A Rough Trade,' partially inspired the film 'Blood Diamond.'
Global Witness believes that tax havens should not handle resource revenues due to illicit activities and lack of revenue generation for citizens.
Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada jointly called for a redefined classification for conflict diamonds.
African Diamond Council (ADC) and ADPA chairman Dr. André A. Jackson criticized the Kimberley Process for its ineffectiveness in preventing the trade of diamonds mined through human suffering.
Time Magazine published an article questioning the legitimacy of the Kimberley Process and its ability to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market.
A BBC radio documentary titled 'Zimbabwe's Diamond Fields' revealed that Kimberley Process officials were unaware of the tortures and killings in the diamond fields.

Reference	URL
Glossary	https://harryandcojewellery.com.au/blogs/glossary/kimberley-process-certification-scheme
Wikipedia	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberley_Process_Certification_Scheme
Wikidata	https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q977187
Knowledge Graph	https://www.google.com/search?kgmid=/m/03m4xd