Dubai: The Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition (KPCSC) has criticized the diamond industry’s regulatory body for its lack of meaningful reforms, accusing it of going in circles without real progress.

Speaking at the Kimberley Process plenary in Dubai, KPCSC coordinator Jaff Bamenjo expressed frustration over the UN-backed organization entering its second year of another reform cycle while persistent challenges remain unaddressed.

“The Ad Hoc Committee on Review and Reform (AHCRR) and its various subgroups have held numerous discussions, yet we find ourselves stuck in the same cycle—unchanged for over two decades,” Bamenjo said.

He highlighted a lack of progress on broadening the definition of conflict diamonds, a key demand for reform. “The constant regression in discussions around this definition raises serious doubts about whether this review process is more than just lip service,” he remarked.

Bamenjo also criticized opposition to reforms for hindering meaningful progress. “Given the slow pace and lack of substantive outcomes, we must ask: Is this reform cycle merely a box-ticking exercise, another year of empty promises, rather than a moment for tangible action?”

He urged participants in the Kimberley Process to adopt a more comprehensive definition of conflict diamonds and implement measures to address human rights abuses, environmental degradation, and labor violations tied to diamond mining.

“As the Kimberley Process continues to spin its wheels, we are left hammering the same point—a message that becomes harder to salvage with each missed opportunity,” Bamenjo warned. “This is not a matter of convenience but a necessity for the survival and relevance of the Kimberley Process.”

Without transformative action, Bamenjo concluded, this reform cycle risks becoming yet another missed opportunity in the Kimberley Process’s history.