Guide Note

Conflict Diamonds, also referred to as blood diamonds or war diamonds, are diamonds mined in a war zone and sold internationally. The miners are subject to human rights abuses, and the profits go towards war efforts in already politically unstable regions. Despite international efforts to identify and boycott conflict diamonds, many still make it into the international market.

Fast Facts

1. Also known as: blood-, war-, converted-, or hot-diamonds
2. Legitimate diamonds are referred to as conflict-free or conflict-neutral
3. Commonly produced in African countries
4. World Diamond Council oversees diamond exports
5. Kimberly Process Certification Scheme attempts to isolate and prevent the sale of conflict diamonds
6. Often smuggled into safe countries, then mislabeled as conflict-free

1. 1998: The United Nations places the first international restrictions on conflict diamonds
2. May, 2000: Diamond producing countries meet in Kimberley, South Africa and devise the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme
3. July 19, 2000: World Diamond Congress adopts a resolution for diamond industry to block sales of conflict diamonds
4. January 17-18, 2001: World Diamond Council formed to replace the World Diamond Congress

The World Diamond Council verifies that diamonds being sold did not come from a conflict region, and can be labeled conflict-free. Smuggling makes it difficult to completely verify, so many diamond sellers donate money to relief charities in order to make their diamonds conflict-neutral.