Conflict Diamonds

Conflict diamonds are those sold in order to fund armed conflict and civil war. Profits from the trade in conflict diamonds, worth billions of dollars, were used by war lords and rebels to buy arms during the devastating wars in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Sierra Leone. Wars that have cost an estimated 3.7 million lives. 

While the wars in Angola and Sierra Leone are now over, and fighting in DRC decreased, the problem of conflict diamonds has not gone away. Diamonds mined in rebel-held areas Côte d’Ivoire, a West African country in the middle of volatile conflict [also known as the Ivory Coast in Western Africa], are reaching the international diamond market. Conflict diamonds from Liberia are also being smuggled into neighboring countries and exported as a part of legitimate diamond trade.

(Source: Are You Looking for the Perfect Diamond? Brochure produced by Amnesty International)

As a consumer you can help ensure diamonds never again fund conflict. When shopping for diamond jewelry, you can ask the salesperson four questions to find out what they are doing to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds. They should be only too pleased to help you. If they aren’t, try somewhere else, and tell them why.

• How can I be sure that none of your jewelry contains conflict diamonds?
• Do you know where the diamonds you sell come from?
• Can I see a copy of your company’s policy on conflict diamonds?
• Can you show me a written guarantee from your diamond suppliers stating that your diamonds are conflict-free?

Make sure the diamond industry gets the message that the only diamonds people want to buy are conflict-free.

(Source: Are You Looking for the Perfect Diamond? Brochure produced by Amnesty International)