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NON-CONFLICT DIAMONDS
Non-conflict diamonds have been something most jewellers have been aware of for many years, however the recent release of the Leonardo DiCaprio movie "Blood Diamonds" has now brought this issue to the public's attention. Here at BN Carthew we have long been supporters of non-conflict diamonds, and we take the time to explain briefly the issues involved and what is being done.
SO, WHAT IS A "CONFLICT DIAMOND"?
The Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Global Witness brought to the world's attention in 1998 that UNITA, a rebel group in Angola, was funding its war against the legitimate Government by the control and sale of rough diamonds. These have since become known as conflict diamonds. We also now know that rebel groups in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa were also funding conflicts in this way. It was agreed that this must be stopped.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO STOP THIS?
In 1998, UN economic and political sanctions were announced on Angolan rebels mining diamonds in central Angola. In May 2000, the South African government arranged for meetings of interested parties in Kimberley to take place to try and find a a solution. The meetings and consultations which followed generally became referred to as the Kimberley Process, and this is how the name orignated. Over the following two years, agreement was reached on an International Certification Scheme to aim to manage the exportation and importation of rough diamonds. This scheme, coupled with industry self-regulation, has been designed to give assurance to consumers and to protect the reputation and integrity of the diamond industry.
WHAT IS THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS?
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme provides that each shipment of rough diamonds being exported and crossing an international border must be placed in a sealed and tamper-proof container. These rough diamonds must also be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate.
This certificate is resistant to forgery, uniquely numbered and includes a description of the contents of the container. The shipment can be sent only to a country who is a Kimberley Process participant and rough diamonds which are re-exported must also have a Kimberley Process certificate and can only be sent to a particpating country.
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