[pib] Kimberley Process Certification SchemeIOCR

Note4Students

From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level : Kimberley Process, Conflict Diamond

Mains level : KPCS

• The Intersessional meet of Kimberley Process (KP) will be hosted by India

Kimberley Process Certification Scheme

• The Kimberley Process is a joint initiative involving Government, international diamond industry and civil society to stem the flow of Conflict Diamonds.
• Conflict Diamonds means rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments.
• It is also described in United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions.

Why need KPCS?

• In 1998, certain rebel movements in Africa (Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia) were selling, among other things, illegally obtained diamonds.
• These were known as Conflict Diamonds – to fund their wars against legitimate governments.
• With a view to find ways to stop trade in Conflict Diamonds, world’s diamond industry, UN, Governments and leading NGOs came together and in November 2002 at Interlaken, Switzerland.
• There the final draft of the Kimberley Process measures was ratified by more than fifty countries.
• The KPCS came into effect from 1^st January, 2003 and evolved into an effective mechanism for stopping the trade in Conflict Diamonds.
• At present, KPCS has 55 members representing 82 countries including EU with 28 members.

India and the KPCS

• India is one of the founder members of Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
• It is the Chair of Kimberley Process for the year 2019 with Russian Federation as Vice Chair.
• India had earlier chaired KPCS in the year 2008.

Rough diamond trading under the KPCS

• As per the Scheme, each shipment of rough diamonds being exported and imported by crossing an international border be transported in a tamper proof container and accompanied by a validated Kimberley Process Certificate.
• The shipment can only be exported to a co-participant country in the KPCS.
• No uncertified shipments of rough diamonds are permitted to enter a participant country.

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[pib] Kimberley Process