The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is the process established in 2003 to prevent "conflict diamonds" from entering the mainstream rough diamond market. The KPCS was introduced by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56 following recommendations in the Fowler Report. The process was set up "to ensure that diamond purchases were not financing violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments."
The effectiveness of the process has been brought into question by organizations such as Global Witness, which pulled out of the scheme on 5 December 2011, claiming it has failed in its purpose and does not provide markets with assurance that the diamonds are not conflict diamonds. Matew Magawu, a member of Global Witnesses, has stated "This process was not ideal, but they had to use what they had and make it that much more effective".
Read more about Kimberley Process Certification Scheme: History, Working Procedure, Current Membership, Chairs, Statistics, Peer Review, Expulsion, Global Witness, Criticism
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