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Conflict Diamonds
Courtesy of the UN | http://www.un.org
On this page you'll find more information
on conflict diamonds.
On January 1, 2003 many countries around the world have 'Kimberley
Process' established by world governments and the diamond industry
to eradicate the trade in conflict diamonds. All the diamonds used
in our engagement rings, earrings and jewelry are purchased form
legitimate sources in compliance with the United Nations resolution.
 Movie
release 8th of December 2006 - Blood Diamond:
Agains the backdrop of civil war in 1990's Sierra Leone, "Blood
Diamond" is the story of a South African mercenary (DiCaprio)
and a Mende fisherman (Hounsou) struggling to find a rare diamond
that the fisherman found when he was taken from his family and forced
to mine for diamonds by rebels. Click here
for the website of Blood Diamond.
Courtesy: Warner Bros.
Diamond World does not and will
not ever sell conflict diamonds.
Click
here to read more news about Conflict Diamonds
Crucial issue in fuelling wars
On 1 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly adopted,
unanimously, a resolution on the role of diamonds in fuelling conflict,
breaking the link between the illicit transaction of rough diamonds
and armed conflict, as a contribution to prevention and settlement
of conflicts (A/RES/55/56). In taking up this agenda item, the General
Assembly recognized that conflict diamonds are a crucial factor
in prolonging brutal wars in parts of Africa, and underscored that
legitimate diamonds contribute to prosperity and development elsewhere
on the continent. In Angola and Sierra Leone, conflict diamonds
continue to fund the rebel groups, the National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Revolutionary United Front
(RUF), both of which are acting in contravention of the international
community's objectives of restoring peace in the two countries.
What
is a conflict diamond?
Conflict diamonds are diamonds that originate
from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally
recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to
those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.
How can a conflict diamond be distinguished
from a legitimate diamond?
A well-structured
'Certificate of Origin' regime can be an effective way of ensuring that only legitimate
diamonds -- that is, those from government-controlled areas -- reach market. Additional
controls by Member States and the diamond industry are needed to ensure that such
a regime is effective. These measures might include the standardization of the
certificate among diamond exporting countries, transparency, auditing and monitoring
of the regime and new legislation against those who fail to comply.
Fuelling wars
Rough diamond caches
have often been used by rebel forces to finance arms purchases and other illegal
activities. Neighbouring and other countries can be used as trading and transit
grounds for illicit diamonds. Once diamonds are brought to market, their origin
is difficult to trace and once polished, they can no longer be identified. Who
needs to take action?
Governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental
organizations, diamond traders, financial institutions, arms manufacturers, social
and educational institutions and other civil society players need to combine their
efforts, demand the strict enforcement of sanctions and encourage real peace.
The horrific atrocities in Sierra Leone and the long suffering of the people of
Angola have heightened the international community's awareness of the need to
cut off sources of funding for the rebels in order to promote lasting peace in
those countries; such an opportunity cannot be wasted.
Legitimate
Diamonds 
Peace Development
- Controls on conflict diamonds cut off sources of funding for
rebels, help shorten wars and prevent their recurrence.
- Peace in diamond
producing regions will bring about the potential for economic development and
tax revenue for building infrastructure as legitimate mining ventures increase.
The international diamond industry is already taking steps to respond,
such as the adoption by the World Diamond Congress, Antwerp, 19 July 2000, of
a resolution which, if fully implemented, stands to increase the diamond industry's
ability to block conflict diamonds from reaching market. Other efforts include
the launching, at the initiative of African diamond-producing countries, of an
inclusive, worldwide consultation process of Governments, industry and civil society,
referred to as the Kimberly Process, to devise an effective response to the problem
of conflict diamonds.
What is the United
Nations doing?
The tragic conflicts in Angola and Sierra Leone, fuelled
by illicit diamond smuggling, have already led to action by the Security Council.
Under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, targeted sanctions have been
applied against UNITA in Angola and the Sierra Leone rebels, including a ban on
their main source of funding -- illicit diamonds. Diamond sanctions have also
been applied against Liberia but are not yet in effect.
Martin Chungong Ayafor, Chairman of the Sierra Leone
Panel of Experts. Back
to top--^ ANGOLA:
Following
UNITA's rejection of the results of the United Nations monitored election in 1992,
the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter,
adopted resolution 864 of 15 September 1993, imposing an arms embargo along with
petroleum sanctions against UNITA and establishing a Sanctions Committee consisting
of all the members of the Council to monitor and report on the implementation
of the mandatory measures.
 Following
the signing of the 1994 Lusaka Protocol, UNITA refused to comply with its terms.
In response to UNITA's refusal to disarm and implement the Lusaka Protocol, the
Security Council adopted resolution 1127 of 28 August 1997, which imposed mandatory
travel sanctions on senior UNITA officials and their immediate family members.
A year later, the Security Council adopted resolution 1173 of 12 June 1998 and
resolution 1176 of 24 June 1998, prohibiting the direct or indirect import from
Angola to their territory of all diamonds not controlled through the Certificate
of Origin issued by the Government of Angola, as well as imposing financial sanctions
on UNITA.
By resolution 1237 of 7 May
1999, the Security Council established an independent Panel of Experts to investigate
violations of Security Council sanctions against UNITA. Following the publication
of the Panel's report (document S/2000/203), the Security Council adopted resolution
1295 of 18 April 2000, by which the Panel's recommendations were taken up and
a "Monitoring Mechanism" was established to collect additional information
and investigate any relevant leads regarding sanctions violations, with a view
to enhancing the implementation of the measures imposed on UNITA. The five expert
members were its Chairman, Ambassador Juan Larrain (Chile), Christine Gordon (United
Kingdom), James Manzou (Zimbabwe), Ismaila Seck (Senegal) and Ambassador Lena
Sundh (Sweden). The Mechanism submitted its report to the Committee on 20 December
2000 (S/2000/1225). By resolution 1336 (2001), the Security Council extended the
mandate of the Monitoring Mechanism for a period of three months. On 20 February
2001, the Security Council held an open meeting to discuss the report of the Monitoring
Mechanism. Back
to top--^ SIERRA LEONE:
In July 1999, following over eight years of civil conflict, negotiations between
the Government of Sierra Leone and the Revolutionary United Front led to the signing
of the Lome Peace Agreement under which the parties agreed to the cessation of
hostilities, disarmament of all combatants and the formation of a government of
national unity. The United Nations and the Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS) helped facilitate the negotiations. In resolution 1270 of 22 October
1999, the Security Council established the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone
(UNAMSIL) to help create the conditions in which the parties could implement the
Agreement. Subsequently, the number of personnel were increased and tasks to be
carried out by UNAMSIL adjusted by the Council in resolutions 1289 of 7 February
2000 and 1299 of 19 May 2000, making UNAMSIL the largest peacekeeping force currently
deployed by the United Nations.
Following international concern at the role played by the illicit diamond
trade in fuelling conflict in Sierra Leone, the Security Council adopted resolution
1306 on 5 July 2000 imposing a ban on the direct or indirect import of rough diamonds
from Sierra Leone not controlled by the Government of Sierra Leone through a Certificate
of Origin regime. An arms embargo and selective travel ban on non-governmental
forces were already in effect under resolution 1171 of 5 June 1998.
On 31 July and 1 August 2000, Ambassador Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, Chairman of
the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1132 (1997)
concerning Sierra Leone, presided over the first ever exploratory public hearing
by the Security Council in New York. The hearing was attended by representatives
of interested Member States, regional organizations, non-governmental organizations,
the diamond industry and other relevant experts. The hearing exposed the link
between the trade in illicit Sierra Leone diamonds and trade in arms and related
materiel. The ways and means for developing a sustainable and well-regulated diamond
industry in Sierra Leone were also discussed.
Ambassador Juan Larrain, Chairman of the Monitoring Mechanism
on sanctions against UNITA.
As called for by resolution 1306 of
5 July 2000, the Secretary-General, on 2 August 2000, established a Panel of Experts,
to collect information on possible violations of the arms embargo and the link
between trade in diamonds and trade in arms and related materiel, consider the
adequacy of air traffic control systems in the West African region for the purpose
of detecting flights suspected of contravening the arms embargo, and report to
the Council with observations and recommendations on ways of strengthening the
arms and diamonds embargoes no later than 31 October 2000. The Chairman of the
Panel was Martin Chungong Ayafor (Cameroon). The other members were Atabou Bodian
(Senegal), Johan Peleman (Belgium), Harjit Singh Sandhu (India) and Ian Smillie
(Canada). The Panel submitted its report to the Security Council on 19 December
2000 (S/2000/1195). On 25 January 2001 the Security Council, at its 4264th meeting,
considered the report of the panel of experts. Back
to top--^ LIBERIA:
Following
the findings presented in the Sierra Leone Panel of Experts' report that the illicit
trade in diamonds from Sierra Leone could not be conducted without the permission
and involvement of the Liberian government officials, and that the Government
of Liberia was actively supporting the RUF at the highest levels, the Security
Council adopted resolution 1343 of 7 March 2001. By this resolution, a new Sanctions
Committee of the Security Council was established, an arms embargo was re-applied
and a Panel of Experts was mandated for a period of six months. In addition, the
resolution indicated that if the Government of Liberia does not meet the demands
specified by the Security Council within two months, all States would be mandated
to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect import of all
rough diamonds from Liberia, whether or not such diamonds originated in Liberia,
and a selective travel ban would be imposed. For further
information please contact:
Anna Frangipani Campino, Sanctions Branch,
Security Council Affairs Division, Department of Political Affairs
United
Nations, New York 10017, Tel.(212) 963 5832
Published by the United Nations
Department of Public Information in cooperation with the Sanctions Branch, Security
Council Affairs Division, Department of Political Affairs. Click
here to read more news about Conflict Diamonds Back
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