IPIS attended the Kimberley Process Plenary (9-14 December) as a member of the KP Civil Society Coalition. Over the last couple of years, IPIS has repeatedly voiced its concerns on the functioning of the KP. Within the CSO coalition, IPIS has been calling for meaningful reforms, both on the scope of the definition of conflict diamonds and the internal controls on governments to ensure a clean, conflict-free and legal diamond supply. The existing concerns were not taken away at this year’s plenary in Brisbane. One of the founding members of the Kimberley Process (IMPACT) decided to leave the Kimberley Process. IPIS will evaluate the outcomes of the KP plenary to consider its position in the KP civil society coalition. IPIS continues to call for meaningful reforms of the KP and is deeply concerned about the hostile attitude towards the civil society. IPIS will remain in close contact with the remaining members of the CSO coalition to assess its leverage to play a meaningful role in the Kimberley Process.
