What
are Conflict Diamonds?
Conflict diamonds are diamonds illegally traded to fund conflict
in war-torn areas, particularly in central and western Africa.
The United Nations (UN) 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."
These diamonds are sometimes referred to as "blood diamonds."
Background
Conflict diamonds captured the world's attention during the
extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone in the late 1990s.
During this time, it is estimated that conflict diamonds represented
approximately 4% of the world's diamond production. Illicit
rough diamonds have also been used by rebels to fund conflicts
in Angola, Liberia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of
Congo and the Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville).
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Today, the flow of conflict diamonds has been reduced to considerably
less than 1%.
There are three diamond producing countries that account for
this small percentage. Firstly, the Republic of Congo has been
suspended from participation in the Kimberley Process owing
to areas of non-compliance. Secondly, Liberia and the Ivory
Coast are under United Nations Security Council Resolutions
to prohibit the extraction and trading of diamonds. Despite
both the Republic of Congo and Liberia benefiting from internationally
recognized peace agreements, diamonds from these countries may
be referred to as "conflict diamonds".
In July 2000, the global diamond industry
made clear to the international community its zero tolerance
policy towards conflict diamonds. Dedicated to eradicating the
trade in conflict diamonds, it worked closely with the United
Nations, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
such as Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada to create
the Kimberley Process Certification System. This system was
formally adopted in 2003 and guards against conflict diamonds
entering the legitimate diamond supply chain. The diamond industry
also adopted a voluntary System of Warranties to assure consumers
that their diamonds are from sources free of conflict.
Today 71 governments have enshrined into their national law
the Kimberley Process Certification System, and now more than
99% of the world's diamonds are from conflict free sources.
However, even one conflict diamond is one too many. The diamond
industry continues to work with governments, NGOs and the UN
to strengthen the Kimberley Process and the System of Warranties.
While diamonds have been used
to fund conflict, the problem is not the diamonds themselves
but the rebels who exploit diamonds (along with other natural
resources) to achieve their illicit goals. The vast majority
of diamonds come from countries at peace. These countries have
been able to invest the revenue from diamonds into the development
of infrastructure, schools and hospitals for the good of the
communities in which diamonds are found. These countries include
Australia, Botswana, Canada, Namibia, Russia, South Africa and
Tanzania.
Today, more than 99% of the world's diamonds are now from conflict
free sources and are officially traded under the UN mandated
Kimberley Process.
"Diamonds are a unique resource, evoking beauty and eternal
love. In recent years, pictures of maimed children have threatened
to overwhelm these traditional positive images, when rebel groups
in Africa used diamonds to finance their wars and unspeakable
brutalities against civilian populations. Aroused by these conflicts,
the international community mobilized to ensure people living
in countries with abundant diamond deposits receive the benefits
of their patrimony.
Outraged in the late 1990's that proceeds from diamond sales
financed arms purchases and prolonged insurrections, in Sierra
Leone and Angola, which were some of the most brutal of the
past decade, the international community acted. By 2003 the
international community through the participants in the Kimberley
Process, bringing together industry, governments and civil society,
mobilized governments to ban trade in rough diamonds funding
African conflicts. Called the "Kimberley Process Certification
Scheme" the ban ended those African conflicts financed
by "blood" diamonds. Based on the respect for human
dignity, the negotiators found the following common interests
to win support for an international ban on trade in rough diamonds
used to finance war and rebellion:
- First, in memory of those who died
in Sierra Leone, in Angola, in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo and other African countries in conflicts fueled
by rough ?Conflict? Diamonds;?
- Second, to end the killing in on-going
conflicts in Africa;
- Third, to save the children of
Africa whose lives would be threatened by future conflicts
fueled by conflict diamonds;
- Fourth, to ensure those countries
which depend on diamonds for their development and economic
well-being will benefit from their patrimony; and
- Fifth, to assure consumers the
diamonds they wish to enjoy are without the taint of conflict.
Through the worldwide implementation of the Kimberley Process
Certification Scheme we have begun to fulfill the international
community's obligation to those who have suffered in Africa's
wars by banning the trade in conflict diamonds. We have eliminated
conflict diamond financing in Sierra Leone and are committed
to bring the proceeds from the diamond trade to benefit the
people of Sierra Leone, Angola and Liberia as well as all other
diamond producing countries such as Botswana to help themselves
support economic development of their countries."
-
Ambassador J.D. Bindenagel
,
Former U.S. Special Negotiator for Conflict Diamonds
