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Conflict Diamonds
The ethics of diamond-mining have been particularly highlighted recently by the release of the film Blood Diamond. In some more politically unstable central African and West African countries, revolutionaries take control of diamond mines and use the proceeds from diamond sales to finance their activities. There have also been allegations that terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda have used diamonds to finance their operations and for money-laundering purposes. Diamonds sold in this way are known as conflict diamonds or blood diamonds. Thanks to the efforts of the United Nations, the diamond industry and diamond-trading nations an international monitoring system called the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is now in place, subscribed to by 61 nations. Both governments and industry have important roles to play. We at Astley Clarke believe that continued vigilance is necessary to assure that KPCS fulfils its mission and we only work with Designers and manufacturers in the industry who feel the same way.
This was begun with a meeting between major diamond-trading and producing countries, representatives of the diamond industry and NGOs in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000. After three years of difficult negotiating process, an international diamond certification scheme which requires governments to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds was established. This was officially launched in January 2003. It was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Participating countries must pass legislation to enforce the Kimberley Process and must also set up control systems for the import and export of rough diamonds. Participants are only allowed to trade rough diamonds with other participants. The aim is to prevent blood diamonds from entering the Kimberley Process system.
The Kimberley Process has significantly reduced the number of conflict diamonds in circulation. It is now estimated that only 1% of the annual production of diamonds are traded outside the Kimberley Process. However, major changes and increased vigilance is still necessary to ensure the total extermination of conflict diamonds from the industry. These would include publishing statistics to ensure the process is more transparent, tighter government controls and increased funding to police the scheme, so that NGOs are not over-stretched.
The Kimberley Process does mean, however, that responsible jewelers and designers can ensure that their diamonds are ethically sourced and not in any way funding conflict in the countries where they are mined. At Astley Clarke we go to great lengths to ensure that the diamonds used by our designers are from sources that have been traceable for many years. Further, it is vital to remember that the diamond industry remains vital to the economy and the lives of people in these countries and that to overlook this and avoid diamonds altogether would be a grave misjudgement.
The mining of diamonds and gold employs millions of people in the world’s poorest areas, particularly in Africa – the diamond industry alone is thought to support approximately 10 million people globally. It is crucial to the survival of these people who in most cases have no alternative source of employment or income. If the Western consumer spend on these products should fall, it would have severe consequences for many communities. To find out more about conflict diamonds and the Kimberley process, visit the World Diamond Council's website at: www.diamondfacts.org.
This was begun with a meeting between major diamond-trading and producing countries, representatives of the diamond industry and NGOs in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000. After three years of difficult negotiating process, an international diamond certification scheme which requires governments to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds was established. This was officially launched in January 2003. It was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Participating countries must pass legislation to enforce the Kimberley Process and must also set up control systems for the import and export of rough diamonds. Participants are only allowed to trade rough diamonds with other participants. The aim is to prevent blood diamonds from entering the Kimberley Process system.
The Kimberley Process has significantly reduced the number of conflict diamonds in circulation. It is now estimated that only 1% of the annual production of diamonds are traded outside the Kimberley Process. However, major changes and increased vigilance is still necessary to ensure the total extermination of conflict diamonds from the industry. These would include publishing statistics to ensure the process is more transparent, tighter government controls and increased funding to police the scheme, so that NGOs are not over-stretched.
The Kimberley Process does mean, however, that responsible jewelers and designers can ensure that their diamonds are ethically sourced and not in any way funding conflict in the countries where they are mined. At Astley Clarke we go to great lengths to ensure that the diamonds used by our designers are from sources that have been traceable for many years. Further, it is vital to remember that the diamond industry remains vital to the economy and the lives of people in these countries and that to overlook this and avoid diamonds altogether would be a grave misjudgement.
The mining of diamonds and gold employs millions of people in the world’s poorest areas, particularly in Africa – the diamond industry alone is thought to support approximately 10 million people globally. It is crucial to the survival of these people who in most cases have no alternative source of employment or income. If the Western consumer spend on these products should fall, it would have severe consequences for many communities. To find out more about conflict diamonds and the Kimberley process, visit the World Diamond Council's website at: www.diamondfacts.org.
