Blood Diamonds
By: Dyanna
Background Info
Blood diamonds, also known as, Conflict diamonds, are diamonds mined in areas controlled by groups opposed to legitimate government and sold for a profit that is used to finance violence against the government.
www.freetown-sierraleone.com (Picture)
Conflict
Diamonds are supposed to be symbols of love, commitment, and joyful new beginnings. But for many people in diamond-rich countries, these shiny stones are more than just a blessing. Too often, the world’s diamond mines produce not only diamonds – but also civil wars, violence, human rights abuses,and human suffering.
Blood Diamons Statistics
Conflict Diamond Statistics Data
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
Number of countries that are members of the Kimberly Process 75
Percent of The Republic of Congo’s diamonds that have unknown origins 40 %
What has been done to resolve these diamonds?
In 1998, the UN passed United Nations Security Council Resolution 1173 and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1176, banning the purchase of blood diamonds from Angola.
Despite the UN Resolution, UNITA was still able to sell some diamonds to finance the war. The UN appointed Robert Fowler to investigate. In 2000 he produced the Fowler Report which named the countries, organizations, and individuals involved in the trade. This led to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1295 and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.
What else needs to be done?
There is no guarantee that diamonds with a Kimberley Process Certification are in fact conflict free. Corrupt government officials in leading diamond producing countries are commonly bribed in exchange for paperwork declaring the blood diamonds are Kimberley Process Certified.
Plan, to address the problem:
Since the US is the largest consumer of diamonds, the US has made the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme a law within its borders . Also diamonds from Liberia and Sierra Leone are banned. We need to stop the sell of blood diamonds. These diamonds are being sold for war efforts, and if there is to be less war there can be more economic growth for the country.