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Conflict diamonds and the market

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Joint Press Release Partnership Africa Canada and Global Witness Positive Outcomes at Kimberley Process Plenary Meeting Participants agree to tackle problems with diamond controls The Kimberley Process, which concluded its annual plenary meeting in Gaborone , Botswana on Nov. 9, made more progress on issues relating to the eradication of conflict diamonds than many of its other recent meetings. That is the conclusion of Partnership Africa Canada and Global Witness, two NGOs that have campaigned on the issue of conflict diamonds for the better part of a decade. The Kimberley Process meeting was faced with several very contentious issues. A report to the United Nations Security Council reported in October that conflict diamonds were leaking out of Côte d'Ivoire through Ghana . Partnership Africa Canada presented a report demonstrating that 100% of Venezuela 's diamond production has been smuggled out of the country for more than a year. A three-year self-managed review of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) had failed to deal with several contentious issues, including effective and credible government oversight on the diamond industry, KPCS funding requirements and statistical transparency. "All of these issues were addressed in a constructive manner," said Partnership Africa Canada's Ian Smillie , who had delivered a gloomy opening address to the meeting. "We have been pleasantly surprised at the willingness of participants to deal with the issues quickly, fairly and effectively." The meeting established detailed conditions for Ghana 's continuation in the KPCS, with a tight time frame and assistance aimed at improving the country's diamond controls. A KP review mission will be sent to Venezuela to engage the government on its apparent lack of control over its industry. The diamond industry, represented by WDC President Eli Izhakoff, asked for effective and credible government oversight of industry compliance with KPCS standards as a means of ensuring consumers that diamonds certified under the KPCS are free of controversy. "NGOs also look forward to specific and more rigorous industry action in this regard," said Corinna Gilfillan of Global Witness. The KP meeting also reopened the question of funding and agreed that this and other issues that had been dropped from the three year review will receive serious consideration in the year ahead. "A lot of the success at this meeting can be ascribed to the Chair," said Dorothee Gizenga Ngolo of PAC. " Botswana was an excellent host, and the able Chairmanship of Kago Moshashane ensured that we stuck to the issues and reached positive conclusions." The challenges ahead remain large, but the pessimism that gripped the opening sessions of the meeting had largely evaporated by the time the meeting ended. ooooooo Partnership Africa Canada works with organizations in Africa, Canada and internationally to build sustainable human development in Africa . Since 1999, Partnership Africa Canada has been a leader in the international campaign to bring good governance to the international diamond trade and to eliminate conflict diamonds. Global Witness focuses on the links between the exploitation of natural resources and human rights abuses, particularly where the resources such as timber, diamonds and oil are used to fund and perpetuate conflict and corruption. It is non-partisan in all its countries of operation. Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada were co-nominated for the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize for their work in uncovering how diamonds have funded civil wars across Africa . For further information, please contact Global Witness: Tel: [phone] [e-mail] https://www.globalwitness.org Partnership Africa Canada : [phone] [e-mail] www.pacweb.org