The World Diamond Council, which promotes the commercial trade of diamonds across the globe, claims that conflict diamonds are unlawfully transferred to fuel violence in war-torn areas, mainly in Central and Western Africa. Conflict diamonds, according to the United Nations, are diamonds mined in regions controlled by rebel factions or insurgent groups who are opposing internationally recognized governments. These diamonds are used to finance their military action against those governments.
Conflict diamonds are usually found in “rough” condition, which means they were recently mined but have not yet been cut. Conflict diamonds were believed to account for 4% of global diamond production at the peak of Sierra Leone’s civil war.
Keep reading this article to know more about conflict diamonds and how to avoid their purchase.
Who Suffers From Conflict Diamonds?
Thousands of innocent people, including women, and children are used as slaves in nations like Sierra Leone to extract these blood diamonds, in addition to the innocent people involved in the hostilities that the trade causes. They are frequently compelled to employ ancient, back-breaking tactics like excavating with their bare hands in dirt or gravel along river banks. Using hand-held sieves, the gathered material is sorted.
What Do You Know About The Kimberley Process?
The Kimberley Process was developed to put an end to the market of conflict diamonds and to guarantee that diamond sales did not finance bloodshed. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) was established by the United Nations, the European Union, the governments of 74 countries, and the World Diamond Council, and requires members to authenticate that all exports of rough diamonds are free of conflict and come from legitimate mining and sales activities.
How To Avoid The Purchase Of Conflict Diamonds?
It is satisfying to know that only a small percentage of the diamonds available in the market are blood diamonds. However, if you still want to make sure that you are not purchasing them, you can check the diamond certificate.
Fortunately, there are other ways to ensure that you avoid blood diamonds completely. If you are planning on buying an engagement ring, instead of choosing a mined diamond, you could choose a lab-grown diamond. Since these diamonds are produced in a laboratory setting, nobody will be hurt and no rebel groups will be involved in the creation process.
Lab-grown diamonds are real diamonds with similar chemical, optical, and physical characteristics as natural diamonds.