There are certain qualities and characteristics to items that buyers should consider when making a purchase. Especially if it’s a large purchase like a diamond ring. With any product one must consider the ethical practices used to get the product into your hands as the consumer. And as a consumer, especially with a diamond ring, one needs to decide if they are willing to purchase a diamond ring that was unethically originated. I will give you a brief intro to conflict diamonds, and the unfortunate practices that are kept in the conflict diamond trade.
What are they?
Conflict diamonds, also known as blood diamonds, are defined by the United Nations 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…” While these diamonds have been the funds used for conflict, they are not what is causing the harm. The rebels in opposition to governments are and have been the ones who create conflict through the misuse of funds from diamonds to achieve their objectives.
Diamonds themselves have actually been a positive export to countries all over the world as a large fund for institutions such as schools and hospitals.
Where do conflict diamonds originate?
Rough diamonds have been used to fund conflict by rebellion groups particularly in central and western Africa. Countries such as Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone have funded conflict in the past through conflict diamonds, but these countries are now at peace and are participants of the Kimberly process which blocks conflict diamonds from entering certain countries that are a part of the process. The Ivory Coast is the only remaining African diamond producer that make up the 1% of conflict diamonds unaccounted for in the conflict-free diamond world market. The Ivory Coast is under UN Security Council Resolution to prohibit the trade of conflict diamonds.
What preventions have been taken?
The international diamond ring industry developed a system in 2000, known as the Kimberly Process Certification System, to stop conflict diamonds from reaching the market. This is done through a thorough tracking of all rough diamonds in each stage of their production with a tracking number.
Since the system began in 2002, the international diamond trade claims that the Kimberly Process Certification System guarantees that 99% of all rough diamonds in the international market come from conflict-free sources. And that means that 1% are still unaccounted for, meaning we as consumers should be aware of where our diamonds are coming from and what pains were taken to produce them.
With that being said…
Make sure that you are aware of where your diamonds are coming from, and be sure to practice good ethics. The illegal importation of conflict diamonds through the Kimberly Process is heavily regulated, but it’s always better to be completely certain that what you are buying is also what you would like to support as a consumer.
*Photo by Swamibu
