KP Must Meet Minimum Expectations, says Civil Society

(IDEX Online) - The Kimberley Process must "think beyond superficial marketing adjustments" and meet its minimum expectations, the civil society observer body said in a hard-hitting assessment ahead of last week's KP intersessional meeting in Mumbai.

The Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition lamented "yet another failed reform cycle" in which KP had, it said, failed to redefine conflict diamonds, turned a blind eye to compliance issues, and failed for three consecutive years to adopt a Plenary communique, as "a basic element of public accountability".

Farai Maguwu, vice-coordinator of KP Civil Society Coalition, said: "While the natural diamond industry often blames lab-grown diamonds, it tends to overlook its own persistent challenges.

"This should be the moment for a fundamental rethink of the KP's role, yet many still find it hard to think beyond superficial marketing adjustments."

If the Kimberley Process cannot fully reform, then he said it must at least become honest, open, and effective enough to detect and respond to modern diamond-related abuses.

Ronnie VanderLinden, president of the World Diamond Council, the main industry‑sector body within KP, struck a very different tone in his remarks, as the intersessional concluded.

"What we saw this week was the Kimberley Process at its best," he said. "People from every part of this system came together under pressure, worked through difficult issues and found a path forward together. That matters."

He praised India's leadership of the meeting, saying its "3Cs" vision of Confidence, Credibility and Compliance had helped shape the tone and direction of discussions.

"We have proven this week that we can move at the speed of necessity," he said. "Now, let us find the same courage and the same energy to update the very purpose of this body to make sure the definition of conflict reflects the reality of our times."

Pic courtesy Kimberley Process, shows the KP Intersessional in Mumbai.