The European Union will take over chairmanship of the Kimberley Process in 2018, according to the diamond certification scheme’s final 2017 communiqué, which was issued following its year-end Plenary in Brisbane, Australia.
Federica Mogherini, will hold the role of chair. She also serves as the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy.
The EU previously held the chair role in 2007. India, another prior chair, will serve as vice-chair next year and is slated to take over in 2019. Australia held the role in 2017.
The Kimberley Process “is part of our work for sustainable peace—to prevent new conflicts and cut the revenues of criminal and terrorist groups,” Mogherini said in a statement. “It is part of our work for human rights—to make sure that diamonds produce wealth, not modern slavery. It has spread the idea that natural resources belong to communities, not militias.”
