As of December 2021, there are 59 Government Participants in the KP, representing 85
countries, with the European Union and its member states counting as a single Participant,
represented by the European Commission.
Only Government Participants hold decision-making rights within the KP, where resolutions
need to be passed by absolute consensus. The diamond industry, represented by the World
Diamond Council (WDC), and civil society are non-voting Observers, but they participate in all
KP’s working groups and committees, where much of the ongoing work of the KP takes.
The KP is governed by the Chair, who is an official appointed by the government of a designated
Participant country. Heading and directing the management of the KP administration, the Chair
serves for a full calendar year, starting on January 1, and oversees the worldwide
implementation of the KPCS, as well as the operations of the KP working groups and
committees.
At the beginning of the following calendar year, the position of Chair is assumed by the
outgoing KP Vice Chair, who was earlier selected by the KP Participants.
Each year, the KP Chair hosts an Intersessional meeting and a Plenary meeting. Administrative
decisions are passed at the Plenary meeting, and become valid after publication of the official
communique following the event.
At the KP Plenary meeting in November 2012, the establishment of an Administrative Support
Mechanism (AMS) was approved, to provide ongoing logistic and managerial assistance to the
KP Chair and officers. Beginning operations in 2013, the AMS has been since operated and
financed by the WDC.