Let diamond spark a full potential!
WDC
President calls on KP-member countries to enact measures
that
enable diamonds to meet their full developmental potential!
WDC
President Stephane Fischler has called on Kimberley Process-member governments
to do what is necessary to safeguard the interests of their mining communities,
and in so doing optimize the developmental potential of their natural
resources. He was speaking during the Opening Session of the 2019
Intersessional Meeting of the Kimberley Process (KP), which opened today in the
Indian city of Mumbai.
"We
must agree that the Kimberley Process should ensure that each government takes
responsibility to ensure a chain of provenance, earning the trust of consumers
wherever they are, and in so doing produce the revenues that must filter back
to the grass roots of the mining communities," Mr. Fischler stated.
Historically,
he noted, one of the most critical factors determining whether a country's
economy is able to take advantage of the potential offered by its rough diamond
deposits is the relative absence of ongoing conflict and violence. "There
is a dramatic disparity between the development level of those countries and
the others that suffered the tragedy of civil war, Mr. Fischler stated.
"Only
today are some slowly realizing the opportunities that their commodities could
offer, in helping maintain the peace and allowing for nation building."
The
Intersessional Meeting is one of two gatherings of all KP participants that
will take place in India in 2019, which is the final year of a three-year
reform and review process underway in the organization. "The Kimberley
Process has today a one-time opportunity to make a difference in those
countries where the diamond industry has not yet met its developmental
potential," he said.
Mr.
Fischler delineated the elements that distinguish review from reform. Reform,
he said, involves enhancing internal processes, so that the KP can "make
better use of the instruments we ourselves have created, or will create in the
future, for the benefit of the members, to generate a more efficient and
effective organization."
These,
he said, include a simplified and more consistent core document, a strengthened
peer-review mechanism, the creation of a permanent secretariat, and the
establishment of a multi-donor fund to ensure that all participants are capable
of being fully active within the KP.
Reform
is a more fundamental process, the WDC President stressed, noting that in its
case industry believes the definition of what constitutes "conflict
diamonds" should be expanded. "We strongly believe that, by helping
eliminate the trade in diamonds directly associated with instances of systemic
violence, we can bring about a more responsible and ethical mining sector, thus
enabling a fairer distribution of the benefits delivered to millions of
people," he stated
While
the diamond industry and civil society will do all that they can to support
constructive change as observers in the KP, ultimately it will be up to
governments to reach consensus on the review and reform that is required, Mr.
Fischler said.
"We
need you, the country representatives, to have the courage to look into the
eyes of your own people - the men, women and children active and living in the
diamond-mining areas. They ask that they be allowed to live, rather than simply
survive. They request safety and security for themselves and their families,
and to be dignified with a proper wage, so that they may build a better future
for themselves and their children, and contribute proudly as citizens," he
said.
"We
are relying on each of you, during this final year of the review and reform
process, to show the consumers of diamonds that the Kimberley Process can unite
around a program that will ensure better care and protection of your brothers
and sisters," Mr. Fischler said.
Prior
to the opening session, the WDC hosted an Observers' Forum with the other
official observers in the KP, including the Civil Society Coalition (CSC), the
Diamond Development Initiative (DDI) and the African Diamond Producers
Association (ADPA).
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