UN Reaffirms Strong Support for Kimberley Process

The UN General Assembly has reaffirmed its strong support for the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), which came into effect on January 1, 2003 and aims to eliminate the use of rough diamonds to finance armed conflict.

The UN meeting in early April focused on progress achieved since the Certification Scheme’s full implementation at the start of last year.

The Assembly stressed that widespread participation in the KPCS was essential.

It adopted a resolution entitled: “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict: breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds and armed conflict as a contribution to prevention and settlement of conflicts”.

The Assembly called for the full implementation of existing Security Council measures targeting the illegal trade in rough diamonds that help to fuel conflict.

Finally, the General Assembly decided to “include in the provisional agenda of its fifty-ninth session the item entitled “The role of diamonds in fuelling conflict”.