Diamonds – Conflict Diamonds, what is a blood diamond?

Diamonds are usually described in terms of their colour, clarity, and carats. In recent years, two other terms have been used to describe these gems. Now classified by their origin as well, diamonds are either conflict or conflict-free diamonds.

What is a Conflict Diamond?

Sometimes called blood or war diamonds, conflict diamonds are rough diamonds that are mined in a war zone. They are brought to market and sold to financially underwrite the activities of terrorist, rebel, or military groups. Most of the countries involved in marketing conflict diamonds are in Africa. However, some terrorist groups which cut across national borders, such as Al-Queda, are involved in this trade.

In the late 1990s, the attention of the world became focused on conflict diamonds because of the war in Sierra Leone. At that time, it was estimated that conflict diamonds were about 4{b73dba2f17de0d6747e2a4e2a5d8cd71a65ae593e6462933d3c03b3044ece260} of the total diamond production in the world. By controlling the local diamond trade, anti-government groups have funded conflicts in other African countries as well: Liberia, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ivory Coast, the Republic of the Congo, and Zimbabwe.

In 2000, several African countries with a legitimate diamond trade started a campaign to trace the origins of all rough diamonds in an effort to stop the sale of conflict diamonds. Once rough diamonds are sold in markets, their origin is very difficult to trace. Once polished, it is impossible to identify where they came from.

In the same year, the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing conflict diamonds as a major source of funding for the wars devastating parts of Africa. In contrast, the U. N. noted that the legitimate diamond trade is a source of prosperity and development for Africa.

What is a Conflict-free Diamond?

In the late 1990s, due to awareness of the use of conflict diamonds to pay for wars, governments, the diamond industry, the U. N., and non-governmental organisations like Amnesty International engaged each other. The result was the development of a world system to keep conflict diamonds out of the legitimate diamond supply and prevent their use in funding wars.

Conflict-free or cruelty-free diamonds ethically brought to market. These diamonds are certified with documentation that can trace them from their mine of origin all the way to the consumer.