I would like to convey the delegation of Israel’s sincere gratitude to the European Union for serving as chair of the Kimberley Process in 2018 and their leadership role in facilitating the draft resolution.
We welcome India as the new chair for the coming year and look forward to continuing the groundbreaking work of the Kimberley Process as a model for multilateralism at its finest.
In 2003, a group of African diamond producing countries put forth an initiative that would change the diamond industry forever.
Today, 16 years later, 81 nations have committed to a measure that has made 99.8% of the world’s diamonds conflict free.
The Kimberley Process is proof that the right recipe of cooperation, determination and commitment can solve this complex problem, save countless lives, and improve the wellbeing of those dependent on the diamond trade to make a living.
For that, we should be proud.
The legitimate trade of diamonds – the success of which can be heavily attributed to the Kimberley Process – is critical for economic growth, social development and the reduction of poverty.
As such, Israel commends the efforts made to tie the Kimberley Process with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Madam President,
Israel was of the first countries to play a part in establishing the Kimberley Process and the first country to issue a certificate when the Process went into effect in 2003. Israel is pioneering harnessing technology to the process. It has mandated that the import of diamonds be fully computerized, opened at delivery and examined at customs with the minimum possible margin of error.
Israel was also among the first nations to look into the harnessing of Blockchain technology to its ever-growing maintenance and development of regulatory measures designed to best uphold the process. Our control measures and regulations, form a highly secure environment for the Kimberley Process to operate most effectively.
In 2017, Israel went through its peer review and passed with flying colors. In the findings of the review, we were praised not only for meeting the minimum standards of the Kimberley Process and for being in full compliance, but especially for our strict auditing processes, data organization and uniform enforcement of the Kimberley Process nationwide.
Israel Diamond Exchange members are required to abide by the recently adopted Ethical Code of Conduct that stresses integrity, fairness, accountability, tradition, human rights, the rule of law and other principles to ensure fair and moral business practice.
Madam President,
Today, the legitimate diamond industry employs almost 40,000 people in southern Africa alone. Its revenues generate substantial funding for HIV prevention, detection and treatment services in Africa and help countless young boys and girls gain access to better education.
But we cannot forget that despite the overwhelming good the Kimberley Process has created, it is not a perfect system. Still, 0.2% of diamonds worldwide are conflict diamonds, linked directly to: armed conflict and devastation of human rights. The international community must do everything in its power to secure the remaining 0.2% of diamonds within the boundaries of the Kimberley Process.
Madam President,
Israel sees high importance in the Peer Review Mechanism, and support the establishment of the Multi Donor Fund, as well as the New Code for International Custom Controls for Synthetic Diamonds.
As a member of all sub-committees, Israel is ready to take a leading role in growing the impact of the Kimberley Process, as it relates to stability and sustainability across diamond producing states. By sharing our knowledge, expertise and strategies, Israel looks forward to making a difference, until every last diamond on earth is certified and every civilian in the process is safe.
Thank you.