What is the Kimberley Process? Does it guarantee that diamonds are conflict free?
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was created in 2003 to address the problem of conflict diamonds entering the mainstream market for rough diamonds. It is a voluntary program by which member countries pledge not to import or export rough diamonds tainted by conflict. Unfortunately, the Kimberley Process has little independent monitoring and enforcement. Violent groups across the world continue to exploit the loose controls of the Kimberley Process to traffic illicit diamonds for profit. Because of the porous nature of African borders, illicit diamonds are smuggled and then exported from countries that are signatories to the Kimberley Process. Once exported, these diamonds are then considered legitimate by the Kimberley Process. In addition, the Kimberley Process uses only the strict definition of “conflict diamonds” as those that fund bloody civil wars. Many African diamonds are mined in brutal conditions and with child labor – acceptable under the Kimberley Process as non-con
