10 million people and families are supported by diamond business in africa
Conflict Diamonds
What are conflict diamonds?
The United Nations 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." The affected areas are mostly in Africa, and include countries such as Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia, the Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville). In the late 1990s, it was estimated that conflict diamonds represented four percent of the world’s diamond production. Since then, the diamond trade as a whole has made a concerted effort, along with the United Nations, governments and NGOs, to eliminate these diamonds from entering the diamond supply chain. Formally adopted in 2003, The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is an international governmental certification scheme which guards against conflict diamonds entering the legitimate diamond supply chain. The diamond industry has also adopted a voluntary System of Warranties to assure consumers that their diamonds are from sources free of conflict.
Today 71 governments have ratified the Kimberley Process Certification System, and now more than 99% of the world's diamonds are from conflict-free sources. Although remarkable progress has been made, even one conflict diamond is too many. The diamond industry continues to work with governments, NGOs, and the UN to strengthen the Kimberley Process and the System of Warranties. If you would like to know more about the issue of conflict diamonds and how the trade, the UN, governments, and NGOs are preventing conflict diamonds from entering the market please visit www.diamondfacts.org
