JA Issues Call to Action on Kimberley Process

Jewelers of America urges Kimberley Process (KP) participants meeting at their Plenary this week in Botswana, to act with alacrity in completing work on the system.

According to JA president and CEO Matthew A. Runci, there are issues to be resolved before KP fulfills all of its original promises.  “It’s time to complete the task and get the job done.”

Among the issues, JA urges Kimberley participants to resolve at the plenary, are:

1.  Enforcement of Controls on the Movement of Diamonds Within Borders.  The Kimberley Process must assure stronger controls on diamonds as they travel from mine to export, especially in countries where diamonds are mined in open or alluvial settings.  It’s a critical step in preventing illicit diamonds from entering the legitimate supply. 
2. Better Management of Trading Statistics.  The gathering of data about rough diamonds leaving and entering KP participant countries must improve and be professionally managed.  This will help the system better identify irregularities in trading patterns that might signal the movement of conflict diamonds.
3. Funding for Effective Management of the Kimberley Process.  To remain truly credible, the Kimberley Process must have the means to support itself.  Funding is especially needed to support statistics gathering, to monitor individual countries’ systems, and to respond quickly to weak links and violations of the rules.

“U.S. retailers are on the front lines explaining the industry’s response to the conflict diamond crisis this fall,” says Runci.  “JA members have vigorously supported all efforts to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond supply.  Since 2003 when the Kimberley Process went into effect, our members have required industry warranties from their suppliers that say all diamonds were sourced through KP.

“If Kimberley continues to be questioned, and the weaknesses are not addressed, consumers could lose faith in their retailers, in this largely successful regulatory system and in diamonds themselves.

“To protect the millions of people throughout the world who depend on diamond revenues to fund health care, schools, and other vital development projects, and for the sake of all who have been victimized by the illicit use of diamonds in the past, we appeal to Kimberley Plenary delegates to act decisively and swiftly on these issues.”