Fatal Transactions at the Kimberley Process

Fatal Transactions attended the General Assembly of the Kimberely Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). The Kimberley Process is a government-led rough diamond certification scheme that was created to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds. Member governments are required to pass national legislation and set up an import/export control system to implement the Kimberley Process.

Fatal Transactions has been critically following the implementation of the KPCS since its inception. This year a large group of NGOs from diamond producing as well as diamond trading countries from Africa, Europe and Latin America joined in a KP orientation workshop and attended the Plenary sessions. This was the first time that such a large and diverse group of NGO participated in the General Assembly.

At the Plenary a strong Civil Society Declaration was presented, asking the governments to systematically work with local civil society during review visits, share information and reports relating to national KP implementation and maintain a spirit of transparency and collaboration. Afterwards, a Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition was created in which Fatal Transactions will take an active role.

Fatal Transactions exhibited the Diamond Matters photo's at the entrance of the main meeting hall of the general assembly. People going in-and-out the meeting couldn't go round the exhibition. Business cards were exhanged and tv programs were taped in front of the beautiful pictures of Kadir van Lohuizen that perfectly visualise the problems discussed at the assembly. (see pictures)

For more information please contact Anneke Galama anneke.galama@niza.nl.