KP Intersessional to run until 22
The EU hosts Kimberley Process (KP) Intersessional meeting in Antwerp. The Kimberley Process Intercessional, a week-long event where the members of the KP, other stakeholders and observers gather to make up the balance of our industry's efforts to protect the diamond industry and trade from conflict diamonds and other unwanted influences.
In 2018, the European Union holds the Chairmanship of the Kimberley Process, a global partnership which brings together governments, industry and civil society with the aim to eliminate the trade in so-called conflict diamonds worldwide. This year, the European Union is chairing the KP and India is serving as the vice-chair.
In this context, the European Union is hosting this year's Intersessional meeting of the Kimberley Process in Antwerp, Belgium from 18 - 22 June. This Intersessional meeting will discuss latest developments in the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme and wider diamond governance, as well as the ongoing reform agenda of the Kimberley Process.
The opening and closing sessions of the Intersessional meeting, taking place on Tuesday 19 June and Friday 22 June respectively. In the context of KP Intersessional, IDMA wishes to focus on issues that are like a Gordian knots.
While US suggests a need for broader conflict diamond definition, due diligence for responsible sourcing! According to Marleny Arnoldi, KP intercessional, which will focus on proposed reforms in the certification system to help achieve ambitious goals in the global diamond industry.
“This year, in addition to serving as vice-chair, India is chairing an ad-hoc committee on review and reform that is tackling tough issues on KP reform, including looking at the scope of the KP to address current challenges.” “They will also look into creating a permanent secretariat on the agenda for the ad-hoc committee,” explains Conflict Minerals and KP for US senior adviser Pamela Fierst-Walsh.
She adds that she is looking forward to a week of meaningful discussion with other members of the KP, as well as the independent observers of the KP, including the World Diamond Council, the Civil Society Coalition and the Diamond Development Initiative.
The US will focus on key improvements in modifying the KP this year; firstly, to encourage the KP to expand the definition of a conflict diamond from the current overly-narrow scope; and secondly, the US will urge the KP to issue a statement of support for acceptance of contemporary due diligence standards in the sourcing of rough diamonds.
“We believe these two developments will show that the KP is willing to modernise and that it can live up to expectations. These are fairly basic advances, but now is the time.”
On the other hand, Human Rights Watch is keen on EU to Push to Protect Rights in Diamond Trade. The Kimberley Process, the certification process set up nearly two decades ago to end the trade in “blood diamonds.” But the Kimberley Process is not up to the task.
The European Union-currently the chair of the Kimberley Process-should push for change to improve the protection of human rights starting with mining and throughout the entire supply chain.
