The World Diamond Council (WDC) cited “meaningful progress” made towards expanding the Kimberley Process (KP) definition of conflict diamonds during a KP meeting in Dubai.

The KP Intersessional Meeting, hosted by the United Arab Emirates and current KP Chair Ahmed Bin Sulayem from May 12 to 16, “marked a significant breakthrough” in broadening KP’s scope of conflict diamonds, according to WDC.

Conflict diamonds are currently defined as those used to finance rebel uprisings against legitimate governments. The definition, established more than two decades ago, is no longer pertinent today, given the evolving nature of conflicts. Some KP members over the years sought to widen the KP scope to include rough diamonds associated with acts of grave violence by public and private security forces as well as diamonds acquired through systemic and widespread violence, forced labour or human rights violations. KP has never reached a consensus on these proposed definitions.

Speaking at the Dubai meeting, WDC President Feriel Zerouki said an expanded terminology presented itself by way of a proposal from the African Diamond Producers Association, a group representing 15 member countries and five observers.

“They proposed language for an expanded definition of conflict diamonds that turned our call into meaningful action and moved us from the existing reference to rebel movements, with an understanding to include armed groups or individuals and entities under the United Nations Security Council sanctions,” Zerouki said. “This contribution opened a path forward and brought many stakeholders back to the table.”

She added, “This time, we feel that the majority of KP members have come prepared with the will to modernise the definition and the will to make the Kimberley Process as impactful as it was at its inception.”