Conflict diamonds
Conflict diamonds mean rough diamonds used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments, as described in relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and as understood and recognised in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 55/56, or in other similar UNGA resolutions which may be adopted in future.
Kimberley Process: United in eradicating conflict diamonds
Kimberley Process is established to find a solution to the international problem of conflict diamonds, and the opportunity for conflict diamonds to play a role in fuelling armed conflict can be seriously reduced by introducing a certification scheme for rough diamonds designed to exclude conflict diamonds from the legitimate trade.
KP Trade Suspensions & UNSC Sanctions
Participants ensure no shipment of rough diamonds is imported from or exported to a non-Participant.
For a serious non-compliant Participant, the Plenary may decide to suspend its import and export. Suspension in principle is on a countrywide basis and might be restricted to specific sites. Historic examples include the Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe (Marange) and the Central African Republic. In addition, a Participant may also voluntarily suspend its own rough diamond exports in response to internal situations. Historic examples include Brazil and Venezuela.
KP also helps to ensure the effective implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions containing sanctions on the trade in conflict diamonds. Historic examples include Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire.
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Enforcement of regulations
Participant countries must enforce stringent legal and regulatory standards to control the import and export of rough diamonds and ensure adherence to KP requirements.
Principles of transparency
Participants commit to transparent practices, which are crucial for the integrity of the diamond supply chain, by exchanging accurate and timely statistical data.
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Selective trading protocol
Trade is permitted only between certified KP members who comply fully with these international standards, safeguarding the legitimacy of the diamond trade.
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Verification of exports
Every diamond export is closely inspected and must be accompanied by a valid KP certificate, certifying that the diamonds are conflict-free to prevent the entry of illicit stones into the market.
Participants
Countries that have fully committed to the KP standards and actively prevent the trade of conflict diamonds.
Observers
Industry and civil society groups that play a pivotal role in monitoring the effectiveness of the KP, offering insights and support to strengthen the certification scheme.
Chair
The Chair represents the collective will of the Participants, as reflected in corresponding KP decisions, organizes the work for implementation of the adopted decisions and coordinates the official activity of the KP with other international organizations and mass media.
Subsidiary Bodies & Working Groups
The Plenary may establish and define the composition and the terms of reference of subsidiary bodies and ad hoc working groups. The subsidiary bodies and ad hoc working groups help to strengthen the implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
Secretariat
Enhances the work of the KP in a dedicated and professional administrative capacity and by providing continuity, institutional memory, operational efficiency, enhanced communication and outreach, and exchange of information within the KP and with relevant international organizations in support of activities of the KP.
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Candidates
Nations aspiring to join the KP, working towards fulfilling the necessary criteria to become full participants.
How to join?
Learn the steps required to become a candidate for Kimberley Process membership.
2000
The Kimberley Process began in May 2000, in Kimberley South Africa. The item was included in the agenda of the 55th session of the UN General Assembly. Diamond-producing states concerned by the damaging social effects of the trade in ‘conflict diamonds’ set out to agree a framework for reducing these influences.
2001
The Kimberley Process met in plenary sessions in Brussels, Moscow, Twickenham and Luanda. The Kimberley Process Ministerial Meeting was held in Gaborone and the Kimberley Process Task Force meeting was held in Windhoek.
2002
In November 2002, after two years of negotiations the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was launched and signed by 37 Participants in Interlaken, Switzerland.
2003
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) came into force in 2003.
2004
The Republic of the Congo was removed from the list of participants on 9 July 2004 following confirmation by the KP review mission of significant non-compliance with the KPCS.
The KP Chair through his Chair's Notice of 1 April 2004, provided an updated list of Participants in the scheme. The updating of the list concerns the addition as Participant of Singapore and the removal from the list of Lebanon.
2005
The UN Security Council Resolution 1643 (2005) decided that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the import of all rough diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire to their territory, and welcomed the measures agreed by KP to this effect.
Indonesia became a Participant on 1 August 2005 and Lebanon was reinstated in a full-member status on 20 September.
2006
Brazil was in voluntary suspension of rough diamond trade from February to September, 2006.
Bangladesh and New Zealand joined the Kimberley Process.
2007
The KP Plenary approved the re-admission of the Republic of Congo to the Kimberley Process.
Liberia, Türkiye and Ukraine joined the Kimberley Process.
2008
The KP Plenary took note that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has voluntarily taken the decision to separate from the KPCS.
Mexico joined the Kimberley Process.
2009
The KP Plenary decided that all shipments from all production sites in the Marange area (Zimbabwe) will be subject to examination and certification by the KP Monitor prior to export to ensure that the production and export of rough diamonds is compliant with the KPCS minimum standards.
2010
The KP Plenary approved Terms of Reference for the Chair and Vice-chair of the Kimberley Process, the procedures for respecting confidentiality within the KP, the revised use of Kimberley Process certificates based data, the procedures for preparation and adoption of documents/decisions in the Kimberley Process, and the cooperation enhancement with the World Customs Organization.
2011
Eswatini joined the Kimberley Process.
2012
Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Panama and Cambodia joined the Kimberley Process.
The KP Plenary decided that pursuant to paragraph 6 of the 2011 Kinshasa AD, the terms of that Decision no longer apply to Zimbabwe (the Marange area).
2013
Administrative Support Mechanism was established to assist the KP Chair and Working Groups in KPCS implementation.
The KP Plenary approved the administrative decision on the temporary suspension of rough diamond trade of the Central African Republic.
The KP Plenary adopted modifications to the KPCS aimed at strengthening its implementation within its current remit.
Mali joined the Kimberley Process.
2014
The UN Security Council Resolution 2153 (2014) terminated the measures preventing the importation by any State of all rough diamonds from Côte d'Ivoire imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005), in light of progress made towards Kimberley Process Certification Scheme implementation and better governance of the sector.
2015
The KP Plenary revised rules and criteria for selecting candidates for Vice-chair of the Kimberley Process.
2016
The KP Plenary welcomed the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on resuming participation in the Kimberley Process.
2017
The KP Plenary approved conditional admission of Gabon as a Kimberley Process Participant.
2018
The KP Plenary compiled modifications to technical definitions-section I of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
2019
The KP Plenary approved the admission of the UK to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
2020
The KP Plenary decided to postpone Russia’s Chairmanship to 2021 and Botswana’s Chairmanship to 2022, due to unprecedented spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
Kyrgyz Republic, Mozambique and Qatar joined the Kimberley Process.
2022
The KP Plenary approved Botswana as the host country for the Kimberley Process Secretariat.
2023
The KP Plenary adopted the Terms of Reference for the Kimberley Process Secretariat.
2024
Official inauguration of the Kimberley Process Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
The KP Plenary lifted all restrictions on rough diamond exports from the Central African Republic.
Uzbekistan joined the Kimberley Process.
The WTO General Council issued the waiver extension concerning Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for rough diamonds, as of 1 January 2025 through 31 December 2030.
2025
The most recent KPCS review cycle started from 2023 concluded.
2026
India assumed KP Chairmanship on the theme of the "3Cs" - Credibility, Compliance and Consumer Confidence.
2000
The Kimberley Process began in May 2000, in Kimberley South Africa. The item was included in the agenda of the 55th session of the UN General Assembly. Diamond-producing states concerned by the damaging social effects of the trade in ‘conflict diamonds’ set out to agree a framework for reducing these influences.
2001
The Kimberley Process met in plenary sessions in Brussels, Moscow, Twickenham and Luanda. The Kimberley Process Ministerial Meeting was held in Gaborone and the Kimberley Process Task Force meeting was held in Windhoek.
2002
In November 2002, after two years of negotiations the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was launched and signed by 37 Participants in Interlaken, Switzerland.
2003
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) came into force in 2003.
2004
The Republic of the Congo was removed from the list of participants on 9 July 2004 following confirmation by the KP review mission of significant non-compliance with the KPCS.
The KP Chair through his Chair's Notice of 1 April 2004, provided an updated list of Participants in the scheme. The updating of the list concerns the addition as Participant of Singapore and the removal from the list of Lebanon.
2005
The UN Security Council Resolution 1643 (2005) decided that all States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the import of all rough diamonds from Côte d’Ivoire to their territory, and welcomed the measures agreed by KP to this effect.
Indonesia became a Participant on 1 August 2005 and Lebanon was reinstated in a full-member status on 20 September.
2006
Brazil was in voluntary suspension of rough diamond trade from February to September, 2006.
Bangladesh and New Zealand joined the Kimberley Process.
2007
The KP Plenary approved the re-admission of the Republic of Congo to the Kimberley Process.
Liberia, Türkiye and Ukraine joined the Kimberley Process.
2008
The KP Plenary took note that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has voluntarily taken the decision to separate from the KPCS.
Mexico joined the Kimberley Process.
2009
The KP Plenary decided that all shipments from all production sites in the Marange area (Zimbabwe) will be subject to examination and certification by the KP Monitor prior to export to ensure that the production and export of rough diamonds is compliant with the KPCS minimum standards.
2010
The KP Plenary approved Terms of Reference for the Chair and Vice-chair of the Kimberley Process, the procedures for respecting confidentiality within the KP, the revised use of Kimberley Process certificates based data, the procedures for preparation and adoption of documents/decisions in the Kimberley Process, and the cooperation enhancement with the World Customs Organization.
2011
2012
Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Panama and Cambodia joined the Kimberley Process.
The KP Plenary decided that pursuant to paragraph 6 of the 2011 Kinshasa AD, the terms of that Decision no longer apply to Zimbabwe (the Marange area).
2013
Administrative Support Mechanism was established to assist the KP Chair and Working Groups in KPCS implementation.
The KP Plenary approved the administrative decision on the temporary suspension of rough diamond trade of the Central African Republic.
The KP Plenary adopted modifications to the KPCS aimed at strengthening its implementation within its current remit.
Mali joined the Kimberley Process.
2014
The UN Security Council Resolution 2153 (2014) terminated the measures preventing the importation by any State of all rough diamonds from Côte d'Ivoire imposed by paragraph 6 of resolution 1643 (2005), in light of progress made towards Kimberley Process Certification Scheme implementation and better governance of the sector.
2015
The KP Plenary revised rules and criteria for selecting candidates for Vice-chair of the Kimberley Process.
2016
The KP Plenary welcomed the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on resuming participation in the Kimberley Process.
2017
The KP Plenary approved conditional admission of Gabon as a Kimberley Process Participant.
2018
The KP Plenary compiled modifications to technical definitions-section I of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
2019
The KP Plenary approved the admission of the UK to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
2020
The KP Plenary decided to postpone Russia’s Chairmanship to 2021 and Botswana’s Chairmanship to 2022, due to unprecedented spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
Kyrgyz Republic, Mozambique and Qatar joined the Kimberley Process.
2022
The KP Plenary approved Botswana as the host country for the Kimberley Process Secretariat.
2023
The KP Plenary adopted the Terms of Reference for the Kimberley Process Secretariat.
2024
Official inauguration of the Kimberley Process Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
The KP Plenary lifted all restrictions on rough diamond exports from the Central African Republic.
Uzbekistan joined the Kimberley Process.
The WTO General Council issued the waiver extension concerning Kimberley Process Certification Scheme for rough diamonds, as of 1 January 2025 through 31 December 2030.
2025
The most recent KPCS review cycle started from 2023 concluded.
2026
India assumed KP Chairmanship on the theme of the "3Cs" - Credibility, Compliance and Consumer Confidence.
