Kimberely process

In 2003, the government-run Kimberley Process scheme was launched to stop the trade in conflict diamonds. Over seventy governments taking part in the process are required to certify that diamond shipments through their countries are conflict-free, and they are required to set up diamond control systems to ensure this is true. Governments must pass national laws implementing the Kimberley Process and they can only trade with other participants in the process.

The diamond industry agreed to police itself to support the Kimberley Process by tracking diamonds from mines all the way to retail stores - this is generally referred to as the "system of warranties" or the "system of self regulation." But this isn't fully implemented. Every company dealing in diamonds should have a policy in place to ensure their diamonds are conflict-free.

Governments must also step in and monitor the diamond industry. They should require all sectors of the diamond trade to put meaningful systems in place to combat conflict diamonds (responsible sourcing policies, third party auditing measures). Governments should carry out periodic spot checks of diamond companies to make sure they have systems in place to prevent any trade in conflict diamonds. Governments participating in the Kimberley Process have agreed that it is a priority to set up government checks of rough diamond companies over 2007.

The World Diamond Council, set up to represent the diamond industry on conflict diamonds, has launched an aggressive, multi-million dollar PR campaign aimed at convincing the public that the conflict diamond problem has been solved. This campaign jeopardizes global efforts to stop diamonds from fuelling conflict and to protect the legitimate diamond trade in Africa. Industry profit and inaction come at the expense of economic development in Africa, and at the expense of people's lives.

Many diamond-rich countries are extremely poor and people are not benefiting from the wealth in their soil. Diamond fields are rife with chaos and instability, and rebel groups and terrorists can still take advantage and access diamonds. The Kimberley Process means little to hundreds of thousands of men and children digging for diamonds in dangerous, dirty and difficult conditions in Africa. They often earn less than a dollar a day from artisanal mining, carried out with simple picks, shovels and sieves.

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