Does the Kimberley Process Work?

<article class="post-1106 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail category-learn tag-jewellery entry" aria-label="Does the Kimberley Process Work?"><header class="entry-header"><p class="entry-meta"><time class="entry-time">July 16, 2020</time> <span class="entry-author">// by <a href="https://betterworldapparel.com/author/ashley/" class="entry-author-link" rel="author"><span class="entry-author-name">Ashley Hague</span></a></span><span class="entry-comments-link">// <a class="scroll-to" href="#respond">Leave a Comment</a></span> </p></header><div class="entry-content"> <p>From jewellery to purses, clothing, and even phones, diamonds are put on just about everything imaginable—for a price. Often a sign of wealth and prosperity, diamonds are highly sought after, especially in the Western world. But, what may be commonplace on fingers in London, is often mined thousands of miles away in poor, developing nations. Diamond-rich regions are some of the poorest areas in the world, many of which are also war-torn. </p><p>For decades, the industry has been ripe with ‘conflict’ or ‘blood’ diamonds, which are sold to arm militia groups in many nations. Forced workers mine them day after day to fund rebel groups in countries, such as Angola, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe. </p><p>Realizing the problem at hand, human rights organizations and industry leaders met in South Africa in May 2000, with the goal of addressing and implementing change. What emerged was The Kimberley Process. </p><p>The Kimberley Process is a UN-backed resolution to remove conflict diamonds from the international diamond trade. Established in 2002 and enforced in 2003, this <a href="https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/en/what-kp" target="_blank" aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">international certification scheme</a> helps to regulate a fair diamond industry. Praised far and wide, you might have seen it touted at your local jewellery store or from ethical brands. But, while the process definitely has had a positive effect on the diamond trade, the question remains on how much. </p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">So How Does the Kimberley Process Actually Work?</h2><figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="612" src="https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/kimberley-process-1024x612.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1140" srcset="https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/kimberley-process-1024x612.png 1024w, https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/kimberley-process-300x179.png 300w, https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/kimberley-process-768x459.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure><p>The Kimberley Process works by allowing any country that imports or exports diamonds to join. They must meet <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/en/about" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">requirements</a> on where and how the diamonds are mined and may not be used to fund militia groups. Member nations must also pass legislation to comply with the requirements and impose regulations to ensure it’s carried out. If they do that, all the diamonds mined earn a certificate that ensures they can enter the legitimate diamond trade. It all seems pretty straightforward, right?</p><p>Unfortunately, like many good intentions, it has simply not lived up to its intended goal. </p><p>The Kimberley Process officially states that it keeps 99.8 percent of the international diamond trade conflict-free. Without diminishing the good it has done, many understand that this number is simply too good to be true. While the process has many moving parts, a few simple issues hinder its progress.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Does ‘Conflict-Free’ Even Mean?</h2><p>One main issue is the narrow definition of “conflict-free.” Because the Kimberley Process focuses solely on diamonds used to fund military conflicts, it fails to address the plethora of other <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.brilliantearth.com/conflict-diamond-facts/#:~:text=Due%20to%20poor%20planning%20and,forced%20local%20communities%20to%20relocate." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">issues</a> in the industry. </p><p>These are oftentimes vast, but the main problems include the exploitation of workers and the impacts of mining on the local community. Child labour and unfair wages, environmental degradation, and loss of cultural sites are all issues the Kimberley Process doesn’t address. With such oversight, it’s easy to see why groups, like Global Witness, have claimed that the <a href="https://www.globalwitness.org/en/press-releases/diamond-industry-fails-clean-its-act/" target="_blank" aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">industry is as dirty</a> as it has ever been. </p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">A Global Process</h2><p>Another issue is the fact the diamonds are <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2013/01/02/rough-cut/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hard to fully trace</a> once they leave the mines. Certified diamonds are transported to India or the Middle East for shaping and polishing. That process itself rids the diamonds of their geographical markings. They also mix with thousands of other diamonds from around the globe. Add the fact that there are numerous cases of <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.kimberleyprocess.com/en/enforcement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">documentation fraud</a>, and tracing diamonds becomes even harder. So, by the time they reach your local jeweller, it’s extremely difficult to identify the original source of a specific diamond. This creates an opportunity for smuggled and illegally mined diamonds to enter the supply chain.</p><p>Of course, this barely scratches the (diamond) surface of the problems within the industry, but it gives some insight into the potential shortcomings of the Kimberley Process.</p><p>This multilateral trade regime definitely has done some good. For one, it recognized a problem in the industry, and sought to change it. This is a definite step in the right direction. By creating some guidelines, it has also created progress. In the nearly two decades it’s been around, the Kimberley Process has created jobs, implemented basic oversight, and brought light to the issue. Unfortunately, it’s still far from enough. </p><p>Despite its issues, The Kimberley Process is a world-recognized name for conflict-free jewellery. For a long time, I believed that buying a KP-certified diamond was a sure-fire way to buy ethically. But, with these oversights and the continued corruption, it is far from perfect. </p><h2 class="wp-block-heading">What are the Alternatives?</h2><p>So, what other options do you have? Buying a diamond is usually a big deal in your life. It might signify you’re getting married or you reached a huge milestone in your career or relationship. But then, you hardly want that rock tarnished by the horrors it may have gone through to get to you. </p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">Lab-Grown</h3><p>For a more ethical diamond alternative, there are <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200207-the-sparkling-rise-of-the-lab-grown-diamond" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lab-created diamonds</a>. </p><p>Diamonds take hundreds of thousands of years of heat and pressure to form deep in the earth. By recreating the same conditions in a lab, scientists are able to make diamonds in a fraction of that time. What they produce are chemically and physically the same as natural diamonds. While there are still concerns with their carbon footprint, they are generally better. Eliminating worker exploration, land degradation, and loss of cultural sites are big pluses. Sure, it might not sound as sexy to say your ring is synthetic, but would anyone even notice the difference?</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading">Support Smaller Mines</h3><p>Unfortunately, there is no other large-scale organization that regulates diamonds. Unlike coffee or clothing, a Fair Trade label is yet to exist. However, there are smaller organizations working to create change within the industry. </p><p>The <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://ddiglobal.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diamond Development Initiative</a> works with The Kimberley Process, but focuses on small-scale mining in regional areas of Africa. It helps address environmental, labour, and cultural issues around diamond mining. Even though diamonds are not labeled as part of this group, by researching the regions and mines they work with, you can ensure you are buying a more ethical diamond. Supporting organizations like this will also help to bring about more change.</p><p>Overall, if you’re looking to buy a diamond, it’s important to research and ask questions. Can I trace the origin of my diamond? What country and mine is it from? What additional requirements does the supplier insist on? Luckily, there are companies that have taken the guesswork out of buying ethically. By choosing an <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://betterworldapparel.com/accessories/ethical-jewellery-brands/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ethical jewellery brand</a>, you can ensure you’re buying from a company that cares about people and the environment, even if it’s not perfect.</p> <div class='yarpp-related yarpp-related-none'> <p>No related posts.</p> </div>  </div><footer class="entry-footer"><p class="entry-meta"><span class="entry-terms">Category: <a href="https://betterworldapparel.com/category/learn/" rel="tag">Learn</a></span><span class="entry-terms">Tag: <a href="https://betterworldapparel.com/tag/jewellery/" rel="tag">Jewellery</a></span></p></footer></article><section class="author-box boxed"><img alt='' src='https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ashley_hague-300x300.png' srcset='https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ashley_hague-600x600.png 2x' class='avatar avatar-200 photo avatar-default' height='200' width='200' loading='lazy' decoding='async'/><h4 class="author-box-title">About <span itemprop="name">Ashley Hague</span></h4><div class="author-box-content" itemprop="description"><p>I'm a New Zealand based freelance writer. I love the environment, travel, fashion, and combining all of those things into my writing. When I'm not writing, I can be found rock climbing or stalking dogs on Instagram.</p> </div></section><div class="after-entry widget-area"><section id="optin-monster-api-2" class="widget optin-monster-api"><div class="widget-wrap"><div id="om-l8etozotpeys1imjazgx-holder"></div><script type="text/javascript" src="https://a.omappapi.com/app/js/api.min.js" data-campaign="l8etozotpeys1imjazgx" data-user="73742"></script></div></section> </div><div class="adjacent-entry-pagination pagination"><div class="pagination-previous"><a href="https://betterworldapparel.com/learn/how-will-coronavirus-impact-fast-fashion/" rel="prev"><span class="screen-reader-text">Previous Post: </span><span class="adjacent-post-link"><span class="pagination-icon">«</span><img width="80" height="80" src="https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/is-fast-fashion-closing-down-due-to-pandemic-80x80.jpg" class="attachment-tiny size-tiny" alt="" decoding="async" loading="lazy" /> How Will Coronavirus Impact Fast Fashion?</span></a></div><div class="pagination-next"><a href="https://betterworldapparel.com/learn/sustainable-and-eco-friendly-clothing-item/" rel="next"><span class="screen-reader-text">Next Post: </span><span class="adjacent-post-link">How Can You Tell if a Clothing Item is Sustainable and Eco-Friendly? <img width="80" height="80" src="https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/sustainable-and-eco-friendly-clothing-item-80x80.jpg" class="attachment-tiny size-tiny" alt="person holding shirt, checking whether it is sustainable and eco-friendly" decoding="async" loading="lazy" /><span class="pagination-icon">»</span></span></a></div></div><h2 class="screen-reader-text">Reader Interactions</h2> <div id="respond" class="comment-respond"> <h3 id="reply-title" class="comment-reply-title">Leave a Reply <small><a rel="nofollow" id="cancel-comment-reply-link" href="/learn/kimberley-process/#respond" style="display:none;">Cancel reply</a></small></h3><form action="https://betterworldapparel.com/wp-comments-post.php" method="post" id="commentform" class="comment-form" novalidate><p class="comment-notes"><span id="email-notes">Your email address will not be published.</span> <span class="required-field-message">Required fields are marked <span class="required">*</span></span></p><p class="comment-form-comment"><label for="comment">Comment <span class="required">*</span></label> <textarea id="comment" name="comment" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="65525" required></textarea></p><p class="comment-form-author"><label for="author">Name <span class="required">*</span></label> <input id="author" name="author" type="text" value="Polish News" size="30" maxlength="245" autocomplete="name" required /></p> <p class="comment-form-email"><label for="email">Email <span class="required">*</span></label> <input id="email" name="email" type="email" value="[email protected]" size="30" maxlength="100" aria-describedby="email-notes" autocomplete="email" required /></p> <p class="comment-form-url"><label for="url">Website</label> <input id="url" name="url" type="url" value="https://xmc.pl" size="30" maxlength="200" autocomplete="url" /></p> <p class="comment-form-cookies-consent"><input id="wp-comment-cookies-consent" name="wp-comment-cookies-consent" type="checkbox" value="yes" checked /> <label for="wp-comment-cookies-consent">Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.</label></p> <p class="form-submit"><input name="submit" type="submit" id="submit" class="submit" value="Post Comment" /> <input type='hidden' name='comment_post_ID' value='1106' id='comment_post_ID' /> <input type='hidden' name='comment_parent' id='comment_parent' value='0' /> </p><p style="display: none;"><input type="hidden" id="akismet_comment_nonce" name="akismet_comment_nonce" value="682ad31d8a" /></p><p style="display: none !important;" class="akismet-fields-container" data-prefix="ak_"><label>Δ<textarea name="ak_hp_textarea" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="100"></textarea></label><input type="hidden" id="ak_js_1" name="ak_js" value="54"/><script>document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() );</script></p></form> </div>

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