Blood Diamonds
Faith and Anna
Background
During the late 1990's is when the world took a realization of the problem of blood diamonds. This was because 4% of the world’s diamonds were coming illegally from these African countries. Today there are still diamonds coming illegally, but the amount has been lowered to less than 1%.
Cause if the conflict
Countries involved
There are seven main counties that are involved in the blood diamond conflict. Sierra Leone, Liberia, Angola, The Republic of Congo, Corte d'lvoire, The Central African Republic, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Statistical Information
Main Information about Diamonds
Percent of total world diamond production that are conflict diamonds 4 %
Peak percent of total world diamond production that were conflict diamonds 15 % (1990)
Annual value of conflict diamonds smuggled in from the Ivory Coast $23 Million
Percent of Sierra Leone’s diamond production that are conflict diamonds 15 %
Total number of deaths attributed to conflict diamond mining 3 Million
Average daily pay for a conflict diamond worker $0.07
Percent of The Republic of Congo’s diamonds that have unknown origins 40 %
Countries with the Highest Production of Conflict DiamondsPercent of World Production
Angola 2.1 %
Sierra Leone 1 %
Democratic Republic of Congo 0.5 %
Diamond Store Statistics
In 2004, Amnesty International and Global Witness conducted a survey of 246 diamond retailers in 50 cities across 18 states. The following is an excerpt of their report:
Percent of stores that were able to assure that they had a policy on conflict diamonds 27 %
Percent of store that were able to furnish a hard copy of their diamond policy 31 %
Percent of stores that were aware of the Kimberly Process 28 %
Percent of stores when asked if customers inquire about conflict diamonds responded rarely or never 83 %
Number of stores that refused outright to take the survey 110
The Kimberly Process
What still needs to be done
The Plan
Sources
http://www.brilliantearth.com/confict-diamond-trade/
http://www.globalwitness.org/sites/default/files/import/the_truth_about_diamonds.pdf
http://www.policyalmanac.org/world/archive/conflict_diamonds.shtml
http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/web/kimberley-process/kp-basics