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Kimberley Process Faces Resistance Over New Conflict Diamonds Definition

Abu dhabi: Most members of the Kimberley Process have expressed support for a proposal to redefine "conflict diamonds," a term currently known as "blood diamonds," during a recent meeting in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A minority, however, vetoed the term, preventing the adoption of the new definition.

According to Angola Press News Agency, the proposal was presented by the African Diamond Producers Association (ADPA) during the Kimberley Process mid-term session in May. The proposal aims to update the definition to account for the evolving nature of diamond-related conflicts, including activities by armed groups, non-state armed groups, and individuals sanctioned by the United Nations Security Council. It also considers operations that undermine legitimate governments and diamond-producing communities.

Despite gaining the support of most members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform of the Kimberley Process (AHCRR), six participants-Australia, Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom-along with one observer, the Civil Society Coalition, opposed the initiative. The new definition was vetoed during the plenary meeting held from November 17-21 in the UAE.

During the meeting, the ADPA criticized both the European Union and the Civil Society Coalition for obstructing consensus and attempting to introduce unilateral mechanisms to regulate the diamond trade outside the Kimberley Process framework. The ADPA, an intergovernmental organization comprised of 22 member states with a focus on promoting sustainable diamond mining and trade in Africa, emphasized the need for an updated definition to reflect current geopolitical realities.

The existing definition of conflict diamonds is based on UN General Assembly Resolution 55/56, established in 2000. This resolution laid the groundwork for the Kimberley Process, an international certification system approved by the General Assembly in 2003. The primary goal of the Kimberley Process is to certify the origin of diamonds and prevent their use in financing wars and armed conflicts globally.