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"I couldn’t believe how easy it was to buy my diamond
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What are Conflict Diamonds?
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Browse Loose Diamonds
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Conflict diamonds are diamonds illegally traded to fund conflict in war-torn areas,
particularly in central and western Africa. The United Nations (UN) defines conflict
diamonds as "...diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or
factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are
used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention
of the decisions of the Security Council." These diamonds are sometimes referred
to as "blood diamonds."
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Background
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Conflict diamonds captured the world's attention during the extremely brutal conflict
in Sierra Leone in the late 1990s. During this time, it is estimated that conflict
diamonds represented approximately 4% of the world's diamond production. Illicit
rough diamonds have also been used by rebels to fund conflicts in Angola, Liberia,
Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo (also known
as Congo Brazzaville).
Today, the flow of conflict diamonds has been reduced to considerably less than
1%.
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There are three diamond producing countries that account for this small percentage.
Firstly, the Republic of Congo has been suspended from participation in the Kimberley
Process owing to areas of non-compliance. Secondly, Liberia and the Ivory Coast
are under United Nations Security Council Resolutions to prohibit the extraction
and trading of diamonds. Despite both the Republic of Congo and Liberia benefiting
from internationally recognized peace agreements, diamonds from these countries
may be referred to as "conflict diamonds".
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Eliminating Conflict Diamonds
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In July 2000, the global diamond industry made clear to the international community
its zero tolerance policy towards conflict diamonds. Dedicated to eradicating the
trade in conflict diamonds, it worked closely with the United Nations, governments
and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Global Witness and Partnership
Africa Canada to create the Kimberley Process Certification System. This system
was formally adopted in 2003 and guards against conflict diamonds entering the legitimate
diamond supply chain. The diamond industry also adopted a voluntary System of Warranties
to assure consumers that their diamonds are from sources free of conflict.
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Today 71 governments have enshrined into their national law the Kimberley Process
Certification System, and now more than 99% of the world's diamonds are from conflict
free sources. However, even one conflict diamond is one too many. The diamond industry
continues to work with governments, NGOs and the UN to strengthen the Kimberley
Process and the System of Warranties.
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While diamonds have been used to fund conflict, the problem is not the diamonds
themselves but the rebels who exploit diamonds (along with other natural resources)
to achieve their illicit goals. The vast majority of diamonds come from countries
at peace. These countries have been able to invest the revenue from diamonds into
the development of infrastructure, schools and hospitals for the good of the communities
in which diamonds are found. These countries include Australia, Botswana, Canada,
Namibia, Russia, South Africa and Tanzania.
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Today, more than 99% of the world's diamonds are now from conflict free sources
and are officially traded under the UN mandated Kimberley Process.
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"Diamonds are a unique resource, evoking beauty and eternal love. In recent
years, pictures of maimed children have threatened to overwhelm these traditional
positive images, when rebel groups in Africa used diamonds to finance their wars
and unspeakable brutalities against civilian populations. Aroused by these conflicts,
the international community mobilized to ensure people living in countries with
abundant diamond deposits receive the benefits of their patrimony.
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Outraged in the late 1990's that proceeds from diamond sales financed arms purchases
and prolonged insurrections, in Sierra Leone and Angola, which were some of the
most brutal of the past decade, the international community acted. By 2003 the international
community through the participants in the Kimberley Process, bringing together industry,
governments and civil society, mobilized governments to ban trade in rough diamonds
funding African conflicts. Called the "Kimberley Process Certification Scheme"
the ban ended those African conflicts financed by "blood" diamonds. Based
on the respect for human dignity, the negotiators found the following common interests
to win support for an international ban on trade in rough diamonds used to finance
war and rebellion:
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- First, in memory of those who died in Sierra Leone, in Angola, in the Democratic
Republic of the Congo and other African countries in conflicts fueled by rough “Conflict’
Diamonds;”
- Second, to end the killing in on-going conflicts in Africa;
- Third, to save the children of Africa whose lives would be threatened by future
conflicts fueled by conflict diamonds;
- Fourth, to ensure those countries which depend on diamonds for their development
and economic well-being will benefit from their patrimony; and
- Fifth, to assure consumers the diamonds they wish to enjoy are without the taint
of conflict.
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Through the worldwide implementation of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
we have begun to fulfill the international community's obligation to those who have
suffered in Africa's wars by banning the trade in conflict diamonds. We have eliminated
conflict diamond financing in Sierra Leone and are committed to bring the proceeds
from the diamond trade to benefit the people of Sierra Leone, Angola and Liberia
as well as all other diamond producing countries such as Botswana to help themselves
support economic development of their countries."
- Ambassador J.D. Bindenagel, Former U.S. Special Negotiator for Conflict
Diamonds
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