Diamonds are some of the world’s most valuable commodities that cost high in terms of money, but even more in terms of their production. (See diamond chart.

South Africa generally is a wonderland for diamonds.

Easily found in many places, such asSierra Leone, diamonds are dug up and sold on the worldwide market. This, however, does not necessarily mean that it generates a lot of income for those who work to get the diamonds.

Diamonds have been skyrocketing in demand and value over the past hundred years.

Investors in selling diamonds have earned millions of dollars.

Again, however, this does not necessarily mean well for those who work for it. Blood Diamonds (See diamond color chart), or Conflict Diamonds, are essentially diamonds that finance rebel groups who consistently fight against proper and legitimate governments. The rebel groups such as the RUF (Revolutionary United Front), have taken it upon themselves to enslave their countrymen and use them to dig up the loose diamonds for sale that are then used to finance their wars.

These rebel groups sell blood diamonds so they can buy weapons from arms dealers to sustain their wars.

Many people have been enslaved or have been forced into service for the RUF in order to sustain their conflict. This is where the Kimberley Process begins.

The Kimberley Process:

Many legit representatives of the government had visited Kimberley, Africa in the year 2000, witnessing the unfortunate events taking place.

They then began to plan on how to end the conflicts that weighed down their lands.

By November 2012, many governments, including both the international as well as South African states, had agreed that they needed to put an end to the trade of these illegal diamonds and formed the Kimberley Process. Finally officially formed in 2003, many other countries, whose markets for diamonds were quite large, agreed to aid these South African states in what they now call the “Kimberley Process”. Aimed directly at stopping the market for conflict or blood diamonds, the Kimberley Process developed laws and regulations that disallowed their countries from purchasing any diamonds that were attained in conflict.

Diamond trade would have to be sifted meticulously before it would reach the market.

Is It Effective?

During their meeting on December 2012, many of the members of the Kimberley Process had deemed that the efficiency of these laws and their lack of proper monitoring and study had caused the project to not reach its objectives fully. Although they have indeed achieved notable accomplishments, there is still a noticeable point that the project had not reached all of their objectives based on their predictions as well as plans.

Because of this, several companies who were in support for the Kimberley Project had cut their support.

During their latest reassessment meeting, they had taken a different look at their plans and have increased the laws, as well as added to the specifications to further enhance their efforts in the fight against Conflict or Blood Diamonds.

The Kimberley Process: An Effective Response? is a post from: WiredWriter