Transcript THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS: - Department of Mineral Resources

THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS:
PROGRESS, CHALLENGES AND PROJECTIONS
SECRET
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CONTENTS
- INTRODUCTION
- WHAT IS THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS (KP)
- WHO ARE THE ROLE-PLAYERS
- THREATS TO THE KP
- OPPORTUNITIES CREATED BY THE KP
- KP LINKS TO OTHER BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL PROCESSES
- THE WAY FORWARD
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INTRODUCTION
Diamonds have always occupied a special place in modern
society’s frame of reference:
- Film
- Books
- Love and
Romance
- Hollywood
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INTRODUCTION (CONTD.)
This image has been tainted by the illicit trade in rough diamonds
by rebel movements in order to fund activities aimed at removing
legitimate governments. This has resulted in the reference to such
diamonds as " conflict diamonds “or worse still as " blood
diamonds ".
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INTRODUCTION (CONTD.)
In the year 2000, a multilateral process was initiated, on South
African soil, to combat this scourge. This was the birth of the
Kimberley Process (KP).
The KP:
- was an African initiated and led process
- strengthened from the close cooperation between the AU PSC
and the UNSC, endorsed by the UNGA and decisions of the WDC
- its main decision making procress is on the basis of consensus
- celebrates its 10 anniversary this year, with South Africa as the
Chair for 2013.
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WHAT IS THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS?
- As noted, the KP started when Southern African diamond-producing states
met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000, to discuss ways to stop the
trade in ‘ conflict diamonds ’.
- Ways were sought to ensure that diamond purchases were not financing
violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine
legitimate governments.
- In December 2000, the UNGA adopted a landmark resolution 55/56
supporting the creation of an international certification scheme for rough
diamonds.
- By November 2002, negotiations between governments, the international
diamond industry and civil society organisations resulted in the Kimberley
Process Certification Scheme (KPCS).
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WHAT IS THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS? (CONTD.)
- The KPCS entered into force in 2003, when participating
countries started to implement its rules and minimum
compliance requirements for the import and export of rough
diamonds.
- Diamond experts estimate that “ conflict diamonds “now
represent a fraction of one percent of the international trade in
diamonds, compared to estimates of up to 15% in the 1990s.
- This has been the KP's most remarkable contribution to conflict
resolution, this could be measured not in terms of carats, but by
the effects on people's lives and livelihood.
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WHO ARE THE ROLE-PLAYERS?
The KP is a multi-stakeholder process involving:
- Governments
54 participants, representing 80 countries, with the EU and its 27 member
states counting as a single participant. KP members account for 98% of the
global production of rough diamonds.
- Industry
De Beers
BHP Billiton
Anglo American
Rio Tinto
African Diamond Producer’s Association (ADPA)
World Diamond Council
- Civil Society
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THREATS
- There is an inconclusive debate about the need to change the
current definition of conflict diamonds which can impact on the
mandate and character of the KP. No consensus was reached on
this issue , the current Chair has been mandated to find closure
on this matter.
- Concerns vis-à-vis human rights violations should be further
discussed as again there is no agreement on its inclusion..
- The term “violent armed conflict” is open to ambiguous
interpretation and there is no agreement on its inclusion in an
expanded definition.
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THREATS (CONTD.)
- Move to synthetics with resultant job losses in countries as
diverse as India, Israel, Botswana and Belgium – in southern
Africa alone the diamond industry provides jobs to 38 000
individuals.
- Links to mercenary structures and smuggling syndicates.
- A dysfunctional KP will fuel Afro-pessimism
- Over-regulation of the diamond industry
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OPPORTUNITIES
- Capacity must be built for beneficiation
- Constructive cooperation between the AU and the UN
between the AU PSC and the UNSC must be nurtured
and
- KP is important as a building block in the broader context of
resolving conflicts on the African continent and beyond and must
take advantage of the space created for it by the UN and its key
organs, mandates and agencies
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OPPORTUNITIES (CONTD.)
- The issues identified as weaknesses of the KP must be raised in
forums With mandates and capacity to ensure genuine
solutions ~ Second Committee , UNSC and Human Rights
Council
- Countries who are part of the KP must fulfil their
responsibilities by being more active in the AU and UN
- The KP must be aligned with the principles and outcomes of
sustainable development
- The diamond industry can act as a springboard to expand and
diversify African economies
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KP LINKS TO OTHER PROCESSES
- South Africa/China bilateral relationship (China KP Vice-Chair
during 2013)
- South Africa’s role as mediator in African conflicts
- South Africa/BRICS relationship
- South Africa’s foreign policy posture in Africa
- The formulation of an AU approach to recent rebel group
activity on the continent – Mali, CAR, DRC
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THE WAY FORWARD
- Need for strong African leadership by increasing the African
footprint in KP
- Reform / Transformation must be the outcome of a considered
process and must not compromise the KP’s initial mandate and
founding principles
-Mechanisms to ensure compliance must be strengthened in a
way which satisfies the requirements of Government, Industry
and Civil Society
-KP must create more partnerships with civil society structures
involved in conflict resolutionCONFIDENTIAL
and peace building
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CONCLUSION
At the end of 2013 it is our wish to humbly contribute to:
- More clean diamonds throughout the value chain
- the diamond industry not only surviving but thriving
-The global passion for- and positive association with diamonds
being sustained
-Diamonds will once more be forever but not conflicts
associated with them
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CONCLUSION (CONTD.)
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