Sep 14, 2006
Diamonds, Conflict and Development in Africa
This seminar explored the actual and potential impact of the Kimberley Process, a joint government, international diamond industry and civil society initiative launched in 2002. The Kimberly Process aims to stem the flow of "conflict diamonds"—diamonds that are used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. Guest speakers included H.E. Lapologang Lekoa, Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to the United States; Corinna Gilfillan, Head of U.S. Office, Global Witness; Rosalind Kainyah, Director of Public and Corporate Affairs, De Beers Group, USA; and Sue Saarnio, Special Advisor for Conflict Diamonds, U.S. Department of State.
The trade of "conflict diamonds" has contributed to devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is an innovative, voluntary system that imposes extensive requirements on participants to certify that shipments of rough diamonds are free from conflict diamonds. The Kimberley Process is composed of 45 participants, which account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds. In this seminar, guest speakers highlighted the many successes thus far as well as the challenges confronting the effectiveness of this international initiative.