Can the EU Revive a Troubled Scheme against Conflict Diamonds?

Jan 12, 2018 | Vince Chadwick and Lisa Cornish
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The European Union began its year-long leadership of the global effort against conflict diamonds this month, pledging to focus on “effectiveness” and “dialogue.” But observers say the notionally tripartite Kimberley Process, or KP, risks becoming a “farce,” as expert NGOs leave in frustration after years of failed attempts at reform. The EU is one of 54 state-based actors in the process, first implemented in 2003 to check the provenance of diamonds through a certification scheme. Countries must only trade with other participating states that meet the agreement’s requirements on transparency, exchange of data, legislation, import and export controls, and shipment certification. Almost $14 billion worth of diamonds were traded through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in 2015. Participants now claim to prevent 99.8 percent of the worldwide trade in “conflict diamonds,” defined as “rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments.”