Conflict Diamonds
Kimberley Process

The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was created by the United Nations in 2002 and the scheme originated from a meeting of South African diamond producing states in 2000 in the town of Kimberley which is the capital of the Northern Cape in South Africa.

The scheme was designed to prevent conflict diamonds from entering legitimate jewellery supply chains. Around 47 countries now adhere to the Kimberley Process including all member countries of the European Union.

In order to participate in the scheme countries must ensure that every diamond export be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate proving that any diamond originating from that country does not finance a rebel group or other faction seeking to overthrow a UN-recognized government. The country must also ensure that no diamonds are imported to or exported from a country or state that is not a member of the Kimberly Process scheme.

Under the Kimberley Process, any country which is part of the scheme must ensure that any diamond mining is strictly supervised and that diamonds in their rough and un-cut and polished state can only be transferred between participating countries in tamper-proof containers and with proper documentation.

There have been some reports that the Kimberley Process is not full proof. The problem with the process is that a country only has to meet the minimum requirements to become a member and that the scheme is self-enforced by the individual member countries. Whilst still being monitored and reviewed by official observers such as the World Diamond Council and Global Witness, there is still room for tampering. An example of this is in 2004 when the Republic of Congo (not to be confused with the Democratic Republic of Congo) was expelled from the list of participants in the scheme due to its constant failure to comply to the minimum requirements needed to participate. Whilst the Republic of Congo has no mining itself, it acts as a conduit for illicit diamonds smuggled from neighbouring Kimberley Process participants such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola. In 2005 investigations by Global Witness showed that Lebanon, who were at the time applying to be listed as a participant of the scheme, had imported diamonds from the Republic of Congo breaking one of the main requirements of the process. It is near impossible to make sure a scheme such as the Kimberley Process is entirely adhered to all the time by every country involved, and whilst the process now covers 99.8% of the world’s diamond trade it is important that diamond suppliers can provide other assurances to their customers that their diamonds are conflict free.

Conflict diamonds overview >
What are conflict diamonds? >
What is the Kimberley Process? >
Our position on conflict diamonds >
Customers sourcing their own stones >
The film "Blood Diamonds" >
The Council for Responsible Jewellery Practices >