What Are “conflict diamonds”?

What Are "Conflict Diamonds" or "Blood Diamonds"?

Conflict Diamonds, also known as “Blood Diamonds,” are stones that are made in areas regulated by rebel forces that are opposed to internationally acknowledged governments. The rebels trade these diamonds, and the money is utilised to buy arms or to support their military actions. Blood Diamonds are often produced via the forced labour of men, women and children. They are also robbed during shipment or seized by attacking the mining processes of honest producers. These attacks can be on the scale of a massive military operation. The stones are then smuggled into the global diamond trade and sold as fair gems. These diamonds are usually the direct source of funding for the rebels; yet, arms merchants, smugglers, and dishonest diamond vendors enable their actions. Enormous amounts of funds are at stake, and bribes, threats, torture, and murder are operation methods. This is the reason why this term “blood diamonds” is utilised.

What is the "Kimberly Process"?

Conflict Diamonds’ flow has invented primarily from Sierra Leone, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, and Ivory Coast. The United Nations and other groups are operating to block conflict diamonds into the worldwide diamond trade.
Their strategy has been to develop a government certification process known as the “Kimberly Process.” This process requires each country to certify that all rough diamond exports are made through fair mining and deals activity.
All rough diamonds exported from these countries are to be accompanied by certificates. These certificates state that the diamonds were made, sold, and shipped via legitimate media.
The certification method accounts for all rough diamonds, via every step of their movement, from mine to retail sale. Retail consumers buying a cut diamond are motivated to insist upon a sales receipt that documents that their diamond developed from a conflict-free source.

"Conflict-Free Diamonds"

Nations who decide to participate in the Kimberly process are not allowed to trade with nonmember countries. The Kimberly Process is supposed to have significantly decreased the number of Conflict Diamonds reaching global gem markets. Today 81 governments and several non-government institutions take by the Kimberly Process. The only two countries under Kimberly Process boycotts as of December 2006 were Liberia and Ivory Coast. The World Diamond Council evaluates that 99% of all diamonds are now conflict-free.

Legitimate Diamond Trade

The legitimate diamond trade gives over 10 million employees jobs and brings wealth to areas where it appears. Support of the Kimberly Process by all countries and buyers can transform bondage into jobs and smuggling into respectable commerce. The steps are working. Today, nearly all of the diamonds obtained to retail markets come from conflict-free origins.

What Are “conflict diamonds”?