The kimberley process certification system - KPCS and diamond production changes in selected African countries and Brazil

Abstract

After more than a decade since its creation, the KPCS is undergoing questioning as to efficiency in combating the irregular trade of diamonds, among the countries with significant production for the global market, mainly Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zimbabwe. Governments and institutions are considering it to be conducive to serious violations of human rights. In Brazil all activities of the sector have been reduced drastically. It is estimated that there has been a loss in Brazilian production, after implementation of the KPCS rules, in the order of 8.1 million Kts, valued at more than $ 2.0 billion.

Estudos no âmbito do setor de extração de diamantes em Angola e seus impactos socioeconômicos (Studies on the extraction of diamonds in Angola and their socioeconomic impacts)

“…Nessa época o tráfico ilegal dos diamantes tornou-se a fonte de renda principal dos grupos rebeldes para o financiamento de guerras de conflito armado, principalmente em Angola, República Democrática do Congo e Serra Leoa. Estes grupos tinham o controle dos campos de mineração, usando os lucros obtidos para a compra de armamento e para a imposição de atrocidades brutais aos civis, tendo assim o controle das regiões exploradas (Santos, 2015).…”