Conflict Free Diamonds
Conflict diamond or blood diamond is a diamond acquired in war zone illegally traded to fund conflict or illegal operations of rebel, military and terrorist groups in war-torn areas, particularly in Africa, and often linked to human rights abuses. Also called, dirty diamond or a war diamond, are the cause of the thousands citizens that have been terrorized, mutilated and killed by groups in control of the local diamond trade. Most affected countries are Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Conflict diamonds are diamonds used by rebel movements and their allies to finance conflict aimed at undermining legitimate governments. This illegal trade in diamonds financed atrocities in several African countries including Sierra Leone and Angola in the 1990s. The use of diamonds to finance conflict remains a problem in Africa, particularly in Cote d’Ivoire and regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In January 2003 the international community was launched finally The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme in order to control and monitor the trade in rough diamonds and prevent the violence financed by the trade. The unpolished diamonds must be shipped in tamper-resistant container and exported with a forgery resistant certificate with unique serial number that certifies that the diamonds are from conflict-free areas.
The Kimberley Process now includes 71 countries and covers more than 99% of the world’s diamond production. It is illegal for uncertified shipments to be imported or exported in those member countries. In addition, to support the Kimberley Process, the international diamond industry agreed to a voluntary “System of Warranties” to ensure that diamonds are tracked at every stage in the chain of trade – from the import of the diamonds up to the sale to the consumer.
The diamond industry claims that the Kimberley system has helped stem the tide of conflict diamonds on the world market and that it can now guarantee that 99 percent of rough diamonds are from conflict-free sources.
That still leaves one percent inexplicable.
With the "Conflict Free Diamonds" certificate, you can help contributing purchasing in free of any political or national conflict.