By now, you have probably heard about 'conflict diamonds' and the controversy surrounding them. They are also called blood diamonds, dirty diamonds, and war diamonds. Although the issue is just now getting national and international press, it has been a major issue in the diamond trading industry and Africa since the 1990's. It seemed necessary to address what makes this an important issue and to sum up the main details surrounding the phenomenon in this diamond issue.



What they are:

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."

Conflict diamonds are mined in war zones and are used to finance rebel or invading armies. Sierra Leone is the most affected country right now facing this issue. The Ivory Coast, Angola, and Liberia have had some success in curtailing the trade of conflict diamonds.

The Process:

Children and teenagers are forced to manually sift through mud (called panning, shown in picture), to find uncut diamonds. The laborers are paid a minimal fee per diamond and many do not find a single diamond for days. Unfair labor practices receive the least coverage of the conflict diamond issue as financing civil war is usually the focus. Unfair wages and child labor are major components of the problem.

After the diamonds are found, they are traded illegally and the money received from the sale of the diamonds are used to fund weapons and other needs for rebels.

What' Being Done

The Kimberley Process was created to eliminate the trade of conflict diamonds. It requires participating governments to ensure that each shipment of rough diamonds be exported/imported in a secure container, accompanied by a uniquely numbered, government-validated certificate stating that the diamonds are from sources free of conflict. Every country does not cooperate, but buying only certified diamonds will help curtail conflict diamond trading.

What You Can Do

Basically, the best thing you can do is get a certified diamond in which origins can be traced. Get a diamond with a certificate-not only does it free your conscience, but also gives you reassurance of the quality of your purchase.

Below are the World Diamond Council's additional suggestions on buying diamonds from jewelers.

www.diamondfacts.org

A reputable jeweler should:

Only use suppliers who can provide a guarantee that their diamonds are from sources free of conflict

Have a conflict diamond policy

Be able to answer a customer's questions about the topic

For further reassurance from a jeweler, a customer can ask the following suggested questions:

How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds?

What is your company's policy on conflict diamonds?