KP Members Must Redefine Conflict Diamonds
November 13, 24
(IDEX Online) - The Kimberley Process (KP) needs all its members - diamond producers, traders, manufacturers and consumer markets - to contribute to expanding the conflict diamond definition, according to Feriel Zerouki, president of the WDC (World Diamond Council).
She was addressing the KP 2024 plenary Session in Dubai in a keynote speech yesterday (12 November).
A year ago the KP plenary in Zimbabwe ended in deadlock over its closing communique, after prolonged and chaotic discussions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The WDC, established in 2000 to represent the diamond industry in the development and implementation of the Kimberley Process, has been tasked with facilitating discussions on what constitutes a conflict diamond.
They are currently defined as rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance armed conflicts aimed at undermining legitimate governments - which excludes Russia or any other state actor.
Zerouki (pictured) said the WDC was fully committed to the task of expanding that definition, but she felt other parties were not pulling their weight.
"It increasingly feels as though we, along with our colleagues in the Civil Society Coalition, and a few more, are shouldering this responsibility alone," she said.
"I'd like to remind everyone that accountability for this definition is shared, and it is the responsibility of all in the KP to actively engage and support the delivery of this mandate.
"We, as the World Diamond Council, are here to pursue genuine reform, not to partake in superficial efforts or empty gestures."