| Conflict Diamonds - The Kimberly Process - Diamond Facts - The 4 C's - Diamond Jewelry Catalog - Pink Diamonds - Black Diamonds - Yellow Diamonds - Blue Diamonds |
| The information contained in this site is copyright protected. It may not be used without prior written consent from Generous Gems or its partner companies. The designs in this site are also trademark protected. Under trademark law designs that come close to, or are deliberate imitations to or similiarities of the use and design of our designs and images infringes on trademark law and may be prosecuted in court. LBK Limited, LLC. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Free with every order over $250 Insured Shipping Ring Sizing and upon request Design Consultation Gift Wrapping Purchase Appraisal |
|
 |
 |
| Find What You Are Looking For |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| 1-888-724-4483 Call Toll-Free or Shop Online |
 |
|
 |
| **pictures enlarged for detail** |
| Conflict Diamonds: What are they? |
| The Kimberley Process
Reprinted from the World Diamond Council Conflict diamonds came to the attention of the world media during the extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone in the 1990s. The UN, governments, the diamond industry and non-governmental organizations (such as Global Witness, Amnesty International and Partnership Africa Canada), recognized the need for a global system to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond supply chain and thus helping to fund conflict. They developed an agreement called the Kimberley Process, which requires participating governments to ensure that each shipment of rough diamonds be exported/imported in a secure container, accompanied by a uniquely numbered, government-validated certificate stating that the diamonds are from sources free of conflict. View a sample of a Kimberley Process certificate. Under the Kimberley Process, diamond shipments can only be exported and imported within co-participant countries in the Kimberley Process. No uncertified shipments of rough diamonds will be permitted to enter or leave a participant's country. This ring-fences conflict diamonds and as such ensures they are unable to enter the legitimate diamond supply chain and thus, cannot be used for illegitimate purposes. In November 2002, 52 governments ratified and adopted the Kimberley Process Certification System, which was fully implemented in August of 2003. Today, 69 governments, in partnership with the diamond industry and NGOs, are committed and legally bound to the UN-mandated process. Kimberley Process participants currently account for well over 99% of the global production of rough diamonds. Kimberley Process participants undergo periodic reviews, along with peer monitoring to ensure compliance. Furthermore, all rough diamond sales are independently audited, and are also subject to separate governmental regulations. Any country that is found not to be in compliance can be sanctioned by the Kimberley Process. All countries that are participants of the Kimberley Process are closely monitored. A recent Kimberley Process Review Mission to Brazil noted anomalies and weaknesses within the country's procedures. The Brazilian Government took definitive action by suspending its official exports of rough diamonds and is in the process of working with the Kimberley Process to remedy the situation as soon as possible. Kimberley Process Requirements Each shipment of rough diamonds crossing an international border must be: Transported in a tamper-resistant container accompanied by a government-validated Kimberley Process Certificate Each certificate must be resistant to forgery, uniquely numbered and describe the shipment's contents The shipment can only be exported to another Kimberley Process participant country It is illegal for uncertified shipments of rough diamonds to either be imported or exported by a Kimberley Process member country Failure to comply with these procedures can lead to confiscation or rejection of parcels and/or criminal sanctions If any concerns arise regarding a country's adherence to the Kimberley Process, they are investigated and dealt with quickly and thoroughly at an intergovernmental level. |