The 2018 Plenary Session of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme opened in Brussels yesterday with the World Diamond Council (WDC) expressing its support to calls for an expanded definition of conflict diamonds as part of the ongoing reform process. The apex body that represents the diamond industry in KP, also emphasised its commitment to responsible sourcing and raising standards all across the supply chain to go beyond consumer expectations in this regard.

In a statement issued yesterday, WDC said that it supported the proposal put forward by the government of Canada, that looks to strengthen the scope by expanding the KP’s official definition of what constitutes conflict diamonds.

It also voiced its support for a declaration of principles for responsibly sourced diamonds proposed by the United States Government, covering human rights, community development, health and labour standards, environmental impacts, and the combatting of corruption, terrorism and organized crime.

A statement issued by the WDC said that this would expand the scope of KP beyond rough stones that finance wars against governments, and support the industry’s drive in protecting consumer confidence in diamonds and the value chain, as reflected by the System of Warranties (SoW) reforms recently launched by the organisation itself.

In his speech to the KP Plenary on the opening day, WDC President Stephane Fischler urged support for these proposals. “This is a tremendous opportunity for us, through the KP process, to make a difference in the lives of people residing in some of the most challenged diamond-producing nations around the world.”

The backers of the proposals intended that they should be the focus of discussions at Plenary this week on strengthening the scope of the Kimberley Process. It has been recommended that a phased implementation approach be adopted, to provide KP participants adequate time to adopt the new conflict diamond definition, WDC stated.

The proposals were drafted using inputs submitted earlier this year in a meeting held by KP Participants in Pretoria, South Africa, and concepts drafted by the European Union, the Civil Society Coalition and the WDC.