Context:

• The KP Plenary Session is being held at Brisbane, Australia.
• In one of the landmark decisions favoring India’s leading position in Diamonds globally, India was appointed as the Kimberly Process (KP) Vice Chair for 2018 & Chair for 2019 in the last plenary held in Dubai in November, 2016.
• The EU will be KP Chair for 2018.

About Kimberley process:

• The Kimberley Process is an international certification scheme that regulates trade in rough diamonds.
• It aims to prevent the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in rough diamonds.
• The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds.
• The KPCS has developed a set of minimum requirements that each participant must meet.
• The KP is not, strictly speaking, an international organisation: it has no permanent offices or permanent staff.
• It relies on the contributions – under the principle of ‘burden-sharing’ – of participants, supported by industry and civil society observers.
• Neither can the KP be considered as an international agreement from a legal perspective, as it is implemented through the national legislations of its participants.
• Conflict diamonds – “Conflict Diamonds” means rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments.
• It is also described in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Source:India Today