AWDC regrets the decision of Global Witness to leave the Kimberley Process, the international certification scheme established to stop the trade in conflict diamonds, the AWDC said in a statement.

The Kimberley Process had always been the example for a well profound and excellent collaboration between states, NGOs and the diamond industry, providing a framework through which the integrity of the rough diamond chain is protected, while at the same time enabling producing countries to benefit from their natural resources.
 
The Kimberley Process has been successful since in less than 10 years the Scheme has minimized the trade in conflict. Today, more than 99 percent of diamonds traded internationally are from conflict free sources. Revenues from these legitimately sourced diamonds contribute significantly to the economies, healthcare systems, education and other infrastructure developments in diamond producing, manufacturing and trading countries. Moreover, the diamond industry self-regulation with regard to the implementation of the KPCS helps to facilitate the traceability of rough diamond transactions by government authorities. This system provides a system of warranties reinforced through verification by third party auditing and government oversight, the AWDC said.
 
However we cannot rest on our laurels. The Kimberley Process needs to review its Process constantly in order to preserve the credibility and integrity of the Process. In this regard, AWDC welcomes the KP decisions taken in Kinshasa to review the KPCS and explore modalities to enhance the efficiently of the KP. AWDC hopes that the Civil Society will continue to be a productive partner in this important initiative, the statement said.
 
Ari Epstein Chief Executive Officer of the AWDC, believes that the active and constructive participation of the NGO Coalition has always been instrumental to the authoritative nature of the Scheme and should be continued:  “According to the mandate given by the UN General Assembly, the Kimberley Process has always been characterized as an inclusive Process in which KP Participating Countries, together with the diamond industry and the NGO Coalition fight conflict diamonds. It is therefore essential that a constructive and inclusive dialogue with the civil society can continue to preserve the credibility of the Scheme.
 
"In this regard, AWDC calls upon the current KP Chair, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and upon the incoming Chair, the United States, to reengage with Global Witness recalling the importance of an inclusive KPCS and acknowledging the essential role of the civil society in the future success of the Kimberley Process.”