Blood diamonds, also known as conflict diamonds, are mined in war zones and sold to fund militias and rebel groups. They have primarily originated from West Africa, where rebels have used the profits from diamond mining to purchase arms and continue conflicts. Rebels have forced men, women and children into slave labor to mine diamonds under violent conditions. In response, the Kimberley Process was established in 2003 by the UN to certify diamonds as conflict-free and prevent conflict diamonds from entering the mainstream market. While this has helped stabilize some countries and support development, illegal diamonds still find their way to markets, so consumers must ensure the diamonds they buy are certified as conflict-free.
2. What is Blood
Diamond? Blood diamonds are also known as “conflict
diamonds” and are usually produced in areas
controlled by rebel forces that are opposed to
governments.The rebels use violence to force men,
women and children into slave labor to mine the
diamonds.The diamonds are used to purchase
arms and fund their military actions.Through out
the entire operation violence, threats, torture and
slavery are practiced hence
“Blood diamond”
3. The diamonds are smuggled onto
the international diamond trade
and then sold as legitimate stones.
The flow of conflict diamonds
originated mainly from:-
West Africa in places like
Sierra Leone, Angola,
Democratic Republic of
Congo,
Liberia and Ivory Coast
4. History of diamond
First Diamond was found by a young boy
named Stephanus in South Africa.
He Gave it to his neighbor named Niekerk.
Niekerk gives it to a traveling salesman.
And later Displayed atWorld Fair in Paris in
1867, & declared to be a diamond and named
“Eureka”
5. Starting of an internal war
More diamonds were found during the time &
this was the start of the history of bloodshed in
Africa
Mining became a big time activity
Realizing worth & preciousness of diamonds
Local people began competing each other,and
startedWar among themselves.
6. Major profits is used by rebels &Warlords
Forced labor, Child labor, Killing, Beatings,
Smuggling, and Corruption Burning of houses and
live stock have arisen with a high rate with no law
enforcement to restrict.
7. Sierra Leone (West Africa)
Major source of hard currency was Diamond
Mining
In 1991 - A rebel group entered the country & took
control of it’s mining cities.
Rebels attempted to overthrow the government,
& an illegal diamond trade was conducted openly.
8. The group cut off thousands of
hands & feet to just show that how
powerful they are
They even cut off the hands of
children and women's.
More then 30,000 people were killed
at that time.
9. Forced labor, child labor and many more crimes
are happening with a very high progress rate with
no law enforcement to restrict…
10. Child terrorism
Children's are being brain washed and being
trained for terrorism activities by some terrorists
and rebel forces.
11. Greedy people’s are doing smuggling and
supporting rebels for terrorism activities for
Just some profit?
12. What's being done
to stop ? The Kimberley Process of Certification
Scheme (KPCS) is the process established in
2003 to prevent conflict Blood Diamonds from
entering the mainstream market.
The KPCS was introduced by United Nations
General Assembly.The process was set up "to
ensure that diamond purchases were not
financing violence by rebel movements and
their allies seeking to undermine legitimate
governments
13. The KP has done more than just blocking the flow
of conflict diamonds, it has also helped to stabilize
fragile countries and supported their
development.
As the KP has made life harder for criminals, it has
brought large volumes of diamonds onto the legal
market.
This has increased the revenues of poor
governments.
14. Remember! So if you’re buying diamonds it’s crucial to make
sure you get some sort of documentation that the
diamond your buying originated from a conflict
free source.
15. Facts!
InJanuary 2003, 40 nations signed
“THE KIMBERLEY PROCESS” – an effort to stem
the conflict diamonds.
But illegal diamonds are still finding their way to
market it is up to the consumer to insist that a
diamond is conflict-free.
There are still 200,000 child soldiers in Africa.
Sierra Leone is at peace…