JA issues call to action on Kimberley Process

As Kimberley Process (KP) participants meet at their plenary this week, Jewelers of America (JA) is urging them to complete the work started in 2003.

"The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is a remarkable and unique achievement, involving the successful cooperation of many governments, non-governmental organizations and industry," said JA President and CEO Matthew A. Runci in a statement. "But while much has been accomplished, there are issues still to be resolved before the Kimberley Process fulfills all of its original promises. It's time to complete the task and get the job done."

Among the issues JA said must be resolved are the enforcement of controls on the movement of diamonds within borders—considered a critical step in preventing illicit diamonds from entering the legitimate supply, especially in countries where diamonds are mined in open or alluvial settings; better management of trading statistics on rough diamonds leaving and entering KP participant countries to help the system better identify irregularities in trading patterns that could signal the movement of conflict diamonds; and funding for effective management of the KP so that the system remains credible. Funding is especially important to support statistics gathering, monitoring of individual countries' systems and to respond quickly to problems.

"U.S. retailers are on the front lines explaining the industry's response to the conflict diamond crisis this fall," Runci stated. "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 the KP."

He added that much is at stake—no less than consumers losing faith in retailers, in what is a largely successful regulatory system and in diamonds themselves—if the KP continues to be questioned and weaknesses are not addressed.

"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," Runci said.