Conflict Diamonds And The Kimberly Process: Part I

Last year I blogged Does the Blood Diamond Scheme Really Work. Global Witness had reported that the Kimberly Process could be failing because loopholes had been discovered in the process. Now there seems to be another break in the system. What is a blood or conflict diamond? The Kimberly Process (KP) defines them as diamonds mined for the purpose of fueling some sort of unsanctioned war or conflict.

This definition is now a problem and of all the countries to redefine this is Zimbabwe. The country is home to the Marange diamond fields which is a small scale diamond producing mine since the 1980s when it was owned by DeBeers.

Does the Blood Diamond Scheme Really Work?

It was announced today by Global Witness that the Kimberly Process could be failing.  Now, the Kimberly Process is a certification scheme is which participating countries basically follow a chain of command with the diamonds they buy and sell.  A country who is selling must document through a series of steps where the diamond came from.  And the diamonds as well as the  paperwork must always be accompanied by a government-validated Kimberly Process certificate.