India will assume the chairmanship of the Kimberley System Certification Scheme (KPCS), also known as the Kimberley Process (KP), from January 2019. The significant transition took place during the KPCS Plenary in November 2018, held in Belgium, where India officially overtook the reins.
Highlights of the KPCS Plenary 2018
The four-day conference provided a platform for wide-ranging discussions, including the pressing issue of environmental challenges in diamond mining and the corporate responsibility of the industry. The main focus was on sustainable mining practices and their potential impact in mitigating these challenges.
India’s Role and Objectives as the KP Chair
As the new chair of the KP, India plans to uphold the long-standing tradition of supporting artisanal and small-scale mining. The main areas of focus will be capacity building, providing technical assistance, and promoting education on several key aspects: the valuation of diamonds, distinguishing between natural and lab-grown diamonds, and emphasizing the necessity of legal and formal mining practices.
The Kimberley Process: A Global Initiative to Curtail Conflict Diamonds
The Kimberley Process is an international commitment, launched in 2003, designed to eliminate conflict diamonds from the global supply chain. These are rough diamonds exploited by rebel movements or their allies to fund armed conflicts intended to destabilize legitimate governments.
The ultimate aim of the KP is to prevent the circulation of conflict diamonds, and meanwhile safeguard the lawful trade in rough diamonds. The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions also feature detailed descriptions of the Kimberley Process.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme: Rules and Regulations
Included within the Kimberley Process is the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). This scheme outlines a set of minimum requirements that every participant must adhere to, thereby ensuring compliance with its norms.
The KP, however, does not function as a typical international organisation. It does not maintain permanent offices or staff and operates on the principle of ‘burden-sharing’, depending on contributions from participants, supplemented by industry and civil society observers.
India: A Founding Member of the KPCS
India proudly stands as one of the founding members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme. The forthcoming Intersessional session is scheduled to be held in India. For the tenure of 2019-2020, Botswana and the Russian Federation will serve as Vice-Chairs under India’s leadership.
Quick Facts About the Kimberley Process
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| The Kimberley Process (KP) was established in | 2003 |
| Main aim of the KP | To prevent the circulation of conflict diamonds |
| India took over the chairmanship of the KP in | 2018 |
| India is a founding member of the | Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) |
| Next Intersessional session will be held in | India |
| Vice-chairs for 2019-2020 are | Botswana and the Russian Federation |
