What Are Conflict Diamonds

Diamonds have cemented themselves as the worlds most popular gemstone and they continue to increase in popularity. Though diamonds are a natural resource, with much esthetic value provoking eternal love: its precious and increasing value has had great impact on the world. While it serves as a treasured collection for some, for others it’s value has served as a catalyst to many wars in certain regions of the world like in central and western Africa. During the late 1990’s conflict diamond accounted for about 4% of the world’s diamond production but today the availability and flow of this diamonds is below 1%. Conflict diamonds also known as “blood” diamonds are diamonds that are mined and sold illegally in areas of conflict and war. The profit from these sales are used to finance rebel activities, war and prolonged insurrection. Records of this activities have been more prevalent in countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola, Ivory Coast and the Democratic republic Congo. Some of this countries have suffered years and decades of devastation, opposition to legitimate government and civil war, which were majorly funded by proceeds from conflict diamonds. Today the narrative as greatly changed with most of these regions or countries enjoying relative peace with conflict diamonds no longer in trade.

Eliminating The Trending Sale Of Conflict Diamond

Conflict diamonds have a history that is not very pretty but a lot people will give you tales that are not reflective of the true situation. More recently things are beginning to change. The global diamond industry in the year 2000, made its position and interest in the sale of conflict diamonds very clear. They have since partnered with the United Nations and other organization in the putting an end to illegal extraction and sale of diamonds with emphasis on completing eliminating what is known as conflict diamonds. Efforts to stop extraction and sale of blood diamonds have considerably grown over the years. In 2003 as part of this measure the Kimberly process certification scheme was instituted. This system has its objective to prevent and protect against the possibility of conflict diamond finding its way into the supply chain of sanctioned diamonds.

The Kimberly agreement offers to give transparency to governments involved in the sale of diamonds. All diamonds sold are accompanied by a certificate that it was extracted from a country that is not using proceeds from the sale of diamonds to fund rebel groups or others seeking to overthrow legitimate government that are recognized by the united nations. This agreements places strict sanctions on exports and import of diamonds to countries that are not members.

Current Status Of Conflict Diamonds

In the past when diamonds were mentioned it was easy to equate it with unthinkable inhuman activities that accompanied its mining and sale. Though a lot of people are interested in the purchase of diamonds that do not concern the suffering of innocent people.  The era of conflict diamond is completely been phased out; with conflict diamond accounting for a very insignificant percentage of diamonds in circulation worldwide. The possibility of you coming across blood or conflict diamonds in today’s world is almost impossible! With the Kimberly process certification in place proceeds from diamond extraction and sale have been used to drive over economic development in most troubled countries.

List Of Countries In The Kimberley Certification Scheme

•  Angola (2003)
•  Armenia (2003)
•  Australia (2003)
•  Bangladesh (2006)
•  Belarus (2003)
•  Botswana (2003)
•  Brazil (2003)
•  Cambodia (2012)
•  Cameroon (2012)
•  Canada (2003)
•  Central African Republic (2003)
•  China (2003)
•  Democratic Republic of the Congo (2003)
•  Côte d’Ivoire (2003)
•  European Union (2003)
•  Ghana (2003)
•  Guinea (2003)
•  Guyana (2003)
•  India (2003)
•  Indonesia (2005)
•  Israel (2003)
•  Japan (2003)
•  Kazakhstan (2012)
•  Laos (2003)
•  Lebanon (2003/2005)
•  Lesotho (2003)
•  Liberia (2007)
•  Malaysia (2003)
•  Mauritius (2003)
•  Mexico (2008)
•  Namibia (2003)
•  New Zealand (2006)
•  Norway (2003)
•  Panama (2012)
•  Republic of the Congo (2003/2007)
•  Russia (2003)
•  Sierra Leone (2003)
•  Singapore (2004)
•  South Africa (2003)
•  South Korea (2003)
•  Sri Lanka (2003)
•  Swaziland (2011)
•   Switzerland (2003)
•  Tanzania (2003)
•  Thailand (2003)
•  Togo (2003)
•  Turkey (2007)
•  Ukraine (2003)
•  United Arab Emirates (2003)
•  United States (2003)
•  Venezuela (2003)
•  Vietnam (2003)
•  Zimbabwe (2003)

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