The initial stages of the Kimberley Process were developed as a result of a meeting held in May 2000 by Southern African diamond producing countries in Kimberley, South Africa. The purpose of this meeting was to develop a process that prevents the trade of “conflict diamonds” or “blood diamonds” from entering the rough diamond market. By developing a method to stop the illegal trade of diamonds, the participating countries could assure consumers that by purchasing diamonds they were not financing violence or human rights abuses in their countries of origin.

As a result of the meetings, in December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution supporting the creation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) to regulate the trade of rough diamonds. The KPCS was finally agreed upon by the countries involved in the trade of diamonds as well as those participating in diamond mining activities.

The KPCS outlines the provisions by which the trade in rough diamonds is to be regulated by countries, regional economic integration organizations and rough diamond-trading entities. In order to be compliant with KPCS standards, the participating country must abide by stringent requirements that guard against conflict diamonds entering the black market. These requirements enforce each participant to ensure:

• The establishment of a system of internal controls designed to eliminate the presence of conflict diamonds from shipments of rough diamonds imported to or exported from its territory.
• That every diamond exported must be accompanied by a Kimberley Process certificate.
• That no diamond is imported from, or exported to, a non-member of the scheme.

Supervisory roles were developed to ensure that participants follow the requirements of the KPCS. The supervisor, or Chair, is elected on an annual basis at a plenary meeting where participating countries gather to discuss methods to improve the effectiveness of the KPCS. At the annual plenary meeting, participating countries have the opportunity to meet with industry and civil society representatives to work together in groups and committees to ensure that the integrity of the certification scheme is upheld and that the Kimberley Process moves closer to stopping the trade in conflict diamonds.

Currently there are 47 active member countries of the KPCS.