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When did the Kimberley Process begin certifying rough diamonds as conflict-free?
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Blood diamond
Map illustrating the diamonds-for-weapons trade that took place in Africa near the end of the 20th century.
The Kimberley Process began certifying rough diamonds as conflict-free in 2003. This certification scheme was established to halt the trade of blood diamonds, which are rough diamonds sold to finance civil wars, and to protect the legitimate diamond trade. The process was named after Kimberley, South Africa, where representatives from southern African diamond-producing countries met in 2000 to address the threat posed by conflict diamonds. In November 2002, ministers from 37 countries and the European Community adopted the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, outlining the minimum requirements for verifying that rough diamonds are conflict-free.12