The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has enacted a resolution calling for reforms to increase the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process (KP), the World Diamond Council (WDC) said.
The European Union proposed the resolution at the assembly’s 73rd session on March 1, with all 193 UNGA members agreeing to it.
“We are most heartened by the adoption of the resolution by the UNGA, not only because it echoes the call for reform that we advocated together with civil society at the most recent KP plenary meeting in Brussels, but also because it was passed with the support of all United Nations member countries, including those in whose territories diamonds are mined, processed, traded and sold in jewelry,” WDC president Stephane Fischler said Monday.
The move follows an appeal by Fischler for the KP to implement changes to its policy — particularly an expansion of its definition of conflict diamonds — during a special meeting at the UNGA last week. The WDC backed a proposal by Canada to that effect at the KP’s plenary meeting in November.
“We strongly hope that this across-the-board commitment to the continuous improvement in the integrity of the global rough-diamond supply chain by all these nations will be repeated in the Kimberley Process forum over the course of this year,” Fischler added.
The UN’s support emphasizes the WDC’s position, the council said, adding that it hoped it was a sign of increased participation in the KP going forward.
