Kimberley Process
The Kimberley Process (KP) is an initiative aiming to ensure that trade in diamonds does not finance conflict. The initiative was welcomed in a United Nations General Assembly resolution and a certification scheme was adopted in 2003 following negotiations between governments, the international diamond industry and civil society groups. Participants now include 54 members (including one from the European Community) representing 80 countries (as of November 2012), the international diamond industry organisation World Diamond Council and civil society groups.
Diamonds fuelling violence are often referred to as “conflict diamonds” or “blood diamonds”. Diamonds covered under the KP are the ones “used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments”. The devastating effects of conflict diamonds have been documented in a number of countries including Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sierra Leone.
Certification imposes several requirements on participating states to ensure that the origin of diamonds can be traced back to their source. It includes requirements on the issuing of certificates accompanying diamonds, legislative changes necessary to ensure import and export consistent with the KP, tamper-resistant containers during shipments, and trade in diamonds limited to other parties to the KP. Implementation is monitored through visits, annual reports and exchange of statistical data.
In addition, the KP outlines a complementary system of warranties to extend the certification provided by governments to the entire diamond supply chain. This has been developed by the diamond industry, which produces invoices affirming the legitimate origin of diamonds. Traders are obliged to keep records of invoices so as to ensure that conflict diamonds are not mixed with KP-certified diamonds.
Some civil society organizations have raised questions about the KP’s effectiveness in eliminating conflict diamonds. These organizations have published reports and recommendations regarding the implementation and further development of the KP.
Discussion at the KP intersessional meeting in Kinshasa on 20-23 June 2011 centred on Zimbabwean diamonds. KP Chairman Mathieu Yamba issued an administrative notice allowing exports from Zimbabwe's Marange mines. Civil society representatives walked out of the meeting in protest at its failure to address human rights abuses in the Marange diamond fields. The US, Canada, EU and Israel criticized Yamba’s decision because it did not fulfil the Kimberley Process requirement of approval by consensus.
In December 2011, the NGO Global Witness left the Kimberley Process.
A selection of key reports on the KP initiative is accessible below.
For further reports & articles, see the Resource Centre’s general section on the Kimberley Process
Official website
Reports and commentaries
- Belgian court investigation into Kimberley Process reveals practices of under-invoicing value of diamonds through subsidiaries; Omega Diamonds agrees to pay fine, but denies guilt, World Policy Journal, 2013/2014
- Le Processus de Kimberley maintient la suspension de la commercialisation des diamants de la Centrafrique, AFP dans Jeune Afrique 22 novembre 2013
- Le Processus de Kimberley reconnaît les efforts de la Côte d'Ivoire visant la levée de l'embargo sur ses diamants, Abidjan.net (Côte d'Ivoire) 22 november 2013
- [PDF] Civil society coalition releases guide to Kimberley Process, Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition, Sep 2013
- Global Witness leaves Kimberley Process, calls for diamond trade to be held accountable, Global Witness, 5 Dec 2011
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Zimbabwe: Kimberley Process on the Brink
Human Rights Watch, 28 June 2011
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Chair’s notice of 23 June 2011 on Zimbabwe issue
Mathieu Yamba, KP Chair, 23 June 2011
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Civil Society expresses vote of no confidence in conflict diamond scheme
Global Witness, 23 Jun 2011 -
Mugabe vows to defy rules on 'blood diamonds'
Ben Doherty, 20 Jun 2011
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The Kimberley Process. A rough cut?
Amber Hildebrandt, CBC News, 23 Jul 2009
[overview of achievements and setbacks of KP]
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Civil Society Groups warn effectiveness of Kimberley Process compromised
Centre du Commerce International pour le Développement (CECIDE); Fatal Transactions; Global Witness; Green Advocates; Groupe de Recherche et de Plaidoyer sur les Industries Extractives (GRPIE); Network Movement for Justice and Development; Partnership Africa Canada, 19 Jun 2009
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Diamonds and Human Security: Annual review 2009
Partnership Africa-Canada, Oct 2009
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Loupe Holes in the Kimberley Process - Gateway for Conflict Diamonds
Global Witness & Partnership Africa Canada, 28 Oct 2008
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The Power of Socialization: Engaging the Diamond Industry in the Kimberley Process
Carola Kantz, London School of Economics, 2007
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The legal aspects of the Kimberley Process
Frans Schram, Jan 2007
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EC Chairmanship of the Kimberley Process: From conflict diamonds to prosperity diamonds
European Commission External Relations, 25 Jan 2007
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Ethical diamonds: Transparency is the goal
Lucy Reiter, Financial Times, 8 Jun 2006
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‘Blood Diamond’ stokes fears of gem backlash: The movie has buyers wondering where their gems come from, and has the industry on edge
Vanessa E. Jones, Boston Globe, 4 Dec 2006
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What is the Kimberley Process?
Global Witness
[includes sections entitled “Is the Kimberley Process working?” and “How to make the Kimberley Process more effective”]
Related stories and components
World Diamond Council updates website for easier access to The System of Warranties guidelines
Author: Diamond World News Service
The World Diamond Council (WDC) has improvised its website to allow the industry an easier access to The System of Warranties (SoW) guidelines, taking another step towards its efforts against conflict diamonds..."One of my priorities as president is...
Author: Agence Ecofin (Suisse)
Une équipe du secrétariat permanent du Processus de Kimberly au Cameroun vient d’effectuer dans les localités de Gbiti, Kette et Toktoyo, toutes frontalières à la République centrafricaine (RCA), une campagne de sensibilisation sur le risque de voir...
- Related in-depth areas: Centrafrique Dernières infos « conflits et paix » Processus de Kimberley
Kimberley’s Illicit Process
Author: Khadija Sharife & John Grobler, World Policy Journal
Omega’s illegal diamond trade linked countries in central Africa to Omega subsidiaries in Dubai and...Antwerp...Omega would purchase diamonds of questionable origin for little to no money in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zimbabwe. They...
- Related in-depth areas: Extractive industry Kimberley Process Latest Legal News Latest news on conflict & peace
- Related companies: ASCORP (Angola Selling Corporation) (joint venture Endiama, Lev Leviev Group, Omega Diamonds) De Beers Endiama (Empresa Nacional de Diamantes de Angola) Intuit Lev Leviev Group
Author: Abidjan.net (Côte d'Ivoire)
Le Processus de Kimberley a marqué vendredi son accord favorable pour que les Nations Unies lèvent l’embargo qui frappe le diamant de Côte d’Ivoire depuis 2005... Selon une source gouvernementale citant le communiqué final de la réunion annuelle du...
- Related stories: Le Processus de Kimberley reconnaît les efforts de la Côte d'Ivoire visant la levée de l'embargo sur ses diamants
- Related in-depth areas: Dernières infos « conflits et paix » Processus de Kimberley
Author: AFP dans Jeune Afrique
La Centrafrique reste suspendue du Processus de Kimberley [selon]... ses représentants à Bangui, présents à Johannesburg pour la réunion annuelle du régime international assurant que les diamants ne servent pas à financer des conflits..."La décision...
- Related stories: Le Processus de Kimberley reconnaît les efforts de la Côte d'Ivoire visant la levée de l'embargo sur ses diamants
- Related in-depth areas: Dernières infos « conflits et paix » Processus de Kimberley
[PDF] A Guide to the Kimberley Process
Author: Kimberley Process Civil Society Coalition
This guide has been produced by the Kimberley Process (KP) Civil Society Coalition, a grouping of civil society organizations working on the issue of conflict diamonds. The guide aims to provide an introduction to the Kimberley Process for civil...
- Related stories: Civil society coalition releases guide to Kimberley Process
- Related in-depth areas: Kimberley Process Latest news on conflict & peace
Global Witness leaves Kimberley Process, calls for diamond trade to be held accountable
Author: Global Witness
Global Witness today announced that it has left the Kimberley Process, the international certification scheme established to stop the trade in blood diamonds. The Kimberley Process’s refusal to evolve and address the clear links between diamonds,...
- Related stories: Global Witness leaves Kimberley Process, calls for diamond trade to be held accountable
- Related in-depth areas: Kimberley Process Latest news on conflict & peace Zimbabwe
Author: Global Witness
Global Witness a annoncé...sa décision de quitter le Processus de Kimberley, dispositif international de certification instauré dans le but d’éliminer le commerce de diamants du sang. En refusant d’évoluer et de se pencher sur les liens inéluctables...
- Related stories: Global Witness leaves Kimberley Process, calls for diamond trade to be held accountable
- Related in-depth areas: Dernières infos « conflits et paix » Processus de Kimberley
Author: Global Witness
Les organisations de la société civile ont aujourd’hui exprimé un vote de non confiance dans le Processus de Kimberley et ont quitté la réunion intersessionelle qui se tenait à Kinshasa. Cette action a été menée en signe de protestation contre l...
[PDF] Civil society expresses vote of no confidence in conflict diamond scheme
Author: Global Witness
Activist organisations today expressed a vote of no confidence in the Kimberley Process, and walked out of the scheme’s meeting in Kinshasa, in protest at its failure to address human rights abuses associated with the diamond trade...[C]ivil society...