De Beers played a pivotal role in the development of the Kimberley Process by helping to bring together the various elements of the global diamond industry.
Kimberley Process Certificate
We have continued with our commitment to the process having carried out capacity building exercises in conjunction with the governments of Sierra Leone and Liberia.
De Beers has also taken part in numerous Kimberley Process Review Missions and as members of the World Diamond Council attend the inter sessional and Plenary meetings.
The Kimberley process started when Southern African diamond-producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa, in May 2000, to discuss ways to stop the trade in ‘conflict diamonds’ and ensure that diamond purchases were not funding violence.
In December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution supporting the creation of an international certification scheme for rough diamonds.
By November 2002, negotiations between governments, the international diamond industry and civil society organisations resulted in the creation of the Kimberley Process Certificating Scheme.
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme sets out the requirements for controlling rough diamond production and trade. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme entered into force in 2003, when participating countries started to implement its rules.
Who’s involved in the Kimberley Process?
The Kimberley Process is open to all countries that are willing and able to implement its requirements.
As of September 2007, the KP has 48 members, representing 74 countries, with the European Community and its Member States counting as an individual participant.
KP members account for approximately 99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds. In addition, the World Diamond Council, representing the international diamond industry, and civil society organisations.
Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada – are participating in the KP and have played a major role since its outset.
How does the Kimberley Process work?
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’ and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate trade.
Under the terms of the KPCS, participating states must meet ‘minimum requirements’ and must put in place national legislation and institutions; export, import and internal controls; and also commit to transparency and the exchange of statistical data.
Participants can only legally trade with other participants who have also met the minimum requirements of the scheme, and international shipments of rough diamonds must be accompanied by a Kimberley Process Certificate guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.
The Kimberley Process is chaired, on a rotating basis, by participating countries. So far, South Africa, Canada, Russia, Botswana, the European Community have chaired the Kimberley Process, and India is the Chair in 2008.
Kimberley Process participating countries and industry and civil society observers gather twice a year at inter sessional and Plenary meetings, as well as in working groups and committees that meet on a regular basis.
Implementation is monitored through review visits, by annual reports as well as by regular exchange and analysis of statistical data.