India to Chair Kimberley Process | 01 Dec 2018

India will chair the Kimberley System Certification Scheme (KPCS) which is also known as Kimberley Process (KP) from January 2019.

  • India took over the Chairmanship of the Kimberley System Certification Scheme (KPCS) during the KPCS Plenary 2018, which was held in Belgium in November, 2018.
  • The 4-day Plenary also witnessed discussion on environmental challenges in diamond mining and industry responsibility.
  • India, during its chairmanship will continue with the tradition and aim to support the artisanal and small-scale mining, capacity building, technical assistance and education on valuation, differentiation between natural and lab grown diamonds, importance of legal and formal mining practices.
  • The next Intersessional session is slated to be held in India with Botswana and the Russian Federation serving as Vice-Chair during the period of 2019-2020.

Kimberley Process

  • The Kimberley Process (KP) is a commitment to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain.

Conflict diamonds, also known as ‘blood' diamonds, are rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance armed conflicts aimed at undermining legitimate governments.

  • It is an international certification scheme which came into force in 2003 to regulate trade in rough diamonds. It aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds.
  • The Kimberley Process is also described in the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.
  • The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds. The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet. 
  • The KP is not, strictly speaking, an international organisation: it has no permanent offices or permanent staff. It relies on the contributions – under the principle of ‘burden-sharing' – of participants, supported by industry and civil society observers.
  • The Kimberley Process (KP) is a binding agreement that imposes extensive requirements through the national legislations of its participants. 
  • India is the founding member of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).