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

Kimberley Process

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

• Zimbabwe: Kimberley Process on the Brink
  Human Rights Watch, 28 June 2011

• Chair’s notice of 23 June 2011 on Zimbabwe issue
  Mathieu Yamba, KP Chair, 23 June 2011

• 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

• The Kimberley Process. A rough cut?
  Amber Hildebrandt, CBC News, 23 Jul 2009
  [overview of achievements and setbacks of KP]

• 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

• Diamonds and Human Security: Annual review 2009
  Partnership Africa-Canada, Oct 2009

• Loupe Holes in the Kimberley Process - Gateway for Conflict Diamonds
  Global Witness & Partnership Africa Canada, 28 Oct 2008

• The Power of Socialization: Engaging the Diamond Industry in the Kimberley Process
  Carola Kantz, London School of Economics, 2007

• The legal aspects of the Kimberley Process
  Frans Schram, Jan 2007

• EC Chairmanship of the Kimberley Process: From conflict diamonds to prosperity diamonds
  European Commission External Relations, 25 Jan 2007

• Ethical diamonds: Transparency is the goal
  Lucy Reiter, Financial Times, 8 Jun 2006

• ‘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

• What is the Kimberley Process?
  Global Witness
  [includes sections entitled “Is the Kimberley Process working?” and “How to make the Kimberley Process more effective”]