Conflict diamond

A conflict diamond (also called a blood diamond) is a diamond mined in a war zone and sold, usually clandestinely, in order to finance an insurgent or invading army's war efforts. Non-governmental organizations have also alleged the use of these diamonds in financing the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Related Topics:
Diamond - War - Non-governmental organization - September 11, 2001 attacks

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The United Nations has decried the sale of conflict diamonds, arguing that their trade finances armies in fighting against legitimate governments and perpetrating human rights abuses, and prolongs devastating wars. It points to the UNITA rebels in Angola and to the Revolutionary United Front rebels in Sierra Leone (who it states are financed by the government of Liberia, also through diamond sales) as purveyors of conflict diamonds.

Related Topics:
United Nations - Human rights - UNITA - Angola - Revolutionary United Front - Sierra Leone - Liberia

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The UN is attempting to implement certification procedures to decrease the number of illicit diamonds on the world market. The World Diamond Council adopted at Antwerp on July 19, 2000, a resolution to strengthen the diamond industry's ability to block sales of conflict diamonds.

Related Topics:
World Diamond Council - Antwerp - July 19 - 2000

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In 2002, the UN approved the Kimberley Process scheme aimed at preventing conflict diamonds entering the market.

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Countries such as Canada have used concerns about conflict diamonds to present domestically-produced diamonds as an ethical alternative which avoids the risk of unknowingly purchasing a blood diamond. The same argument is used by makers of cultured diamonds such as Gemesis and Apollo Diamond.

Related Topics:
Canada - Ethical alternative - Cultured diamond - Gemesis - Apollo Diamond

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Other substances are sometimes sold the same way as conflict diamonds, such as coltan.

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