Introduction
This paper discusses the controversial topic of Blood Diamonds. It provides background information about the beginning of this illegal trade and where it is most widespread. There will also be an explanation of efforts to eradicate the problem by organizations such as the United Nations and how consumers are able to protest the continuation. Also provided will be changes that could be done within the fashion industry in an attempt to with due the circulation of these unethical diamonds, including concrete strategies that could be implemented by diamond producing countries to prevent smuggling.
Background
Blood diamonds, also referred to as conflict diamonds are harvested in war torn countries. Countries where there is little to no government is where this illegal trade business thrives. The diamonds are sold to fund the unofficial groups in power, usually rebel armies or local militia. Conflict diamonds are commonly found in Western and Central Africa. The epidemic of these blood diamonds came to the attention of the public “in the late 1990s during the extremely brutal conflict in Sierra Leone” (Q&A). The conflict started after the breach of a “peace [deal] with [Revolutionary United Front (RUF)] rebels” (Sierra). Shortly after, “the [United Nations] Security Council [imposed] sanctions on Sierra Leone,” (Sierra) this banned any imports of weaponry and other resources into the country. Since the country was unable to receive imported goods, rebel forces used blood diamonds to fund their participation in what became a civil war.
These diamonds are harvested in terrible conditions. Rebel soldiers scare and torture workers. If any gems are thought to be missing or stolen soldiers will inflict harm or even kill the workers accused. Soldiers have been noted with “chopping off arms, hands, legs and other [body parts]” (Marchuk 87) of the people they have enslaved as miners or forcibly recruited into their armed forces. The “exploitation of diamond resources and extensive human rights abuses” (Marchuk 87) is what fueled the civil war in Sierra Leone and surrounding countries. Other countries who have had organizations benefitting from the funding of blood diamonds are “Angola, Liberia, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo (also known as Congo Brazzaville)” (Conflict).
A breakthrough came in the early part of the twenty-first century. “The global diamond industry made [it] clear” (Conflict) that they would not accept conflict diamonds. This organization worked with the United Nations “to create [and enforce] the Kimberley Process Certification System (Conflict). Other non-government organizations involved with the creation are the Global Witness and Partnership Africa of Canada. The Kimberley Process prevents diamonds that come from war torn areas to not enter the official diamond supply chain. To ensure separation, government-issued certificates must accompany any harvested diamonds in order for them to “be imported and exported, providing an assurance that the diamonds are from sources free from conflict (Q&A).” As of today, “more than [ninety-nine percent] of global diamond production” (Q&A) is free of conflict diamonds under the Kimberley Process. The other one percent has had contribution from Ivory Coast, a country in Western Africa, but “under [the United Nations] Security Council Resolution [there is has been an attempt] to prohibit the extraction and trade [of these] diamonds” (Background).
Action Plan
Blood diamonds being circulated into the diamond supply chain is an explicit negligence to human rights abuses on a worldwide scale. When a country or a manufacturer purchases a conflict diamond, there is a complete disregard for the origins of that diamond and is ultimately supporting a war. Not only are these diamonds illegal but they are also unethical. The Kimberley Process has been a substantial improvement for the diamond supply chain and has caused a major decrease of conflict diamonds in the market. Unfortunately, the process is susceptible to flaws. It is said that “as much as [twenty-five] percent” (K, G) of the entire diamond supply chain has been smuggled at one point or another. Unauthorized shipments have been exported from countries whose diamonds have been banned or war torn areas because there is a lack of enforcement.
One way a country would be able to reduce smuggling is by having a check system before any shipment is imported or exported. This check would require all shipments to have a government sanctioned certificate of verification for where the diamonds were sourced. If a mining company went to the government for example, and the diamonds came from an area that was war torn, they would not be able to get a certificate and not be able to export their product. The company would have to wait until the war was over in order to re-apply. This would insure that the profits would not be funding a rebel militia. Another way to insure blood diamonds do not end up in the fashion industry, is by diamond producing countries claiming all their fertile areas as either national parks or government protected land. This would mean that anyone who was not certified to mine in those areas would be breaking the law. If a rebel militia or any other unauthorized person stole the diamonds in these areas, they would be subject to prison. The property would be in the hands of the state, and could provide government jobs. The diamonds produced from these areas would be able to sell and produce revenue for the country. This money could then go to infrastructure, education, and health care. And since the areas would be owned by the state, it would be sanctioned as a no war zone. This would solidify a consistent stream of revenue for producing countries.
Conclusion
In brief, blood diamonds are an international problem. The diamonds are harvested in horrible conditions of fear and tyranny. It is up to the people of the industry to ban against them and not support war. Organizations like the United Nations and the governments of diamond producing countries can ban together through a number of ways to guarantee that rebel armies will be unable to profit from these natural resources. Consumers of the fashion industry can also play a role in making conflict diamonds obsolete.
As a consumer of the fashion industry, what I can do to help eradicate the issue of blood diamonds is by only buying jewelry from sources of peace. The way I can assure that my jewelry is legal and ethical is by requesting an authentication warranty with purchase. If the store is unable to provide me with a certification for the source, or the source has had some government issues within the past few years I will not purchase the piece. Because sometimes diamonds are still able to be smuggled and have forged documents, as a consumer I could not buy diamonds at all. In place I can buy quarts and other gems as a protest of the whole diamond supply chain and the corruption of it.