Basics

Blood diamonds are mined in parts of Africa controlled by rebel forces: warlords and mercenaries engaged in conflict with their nations' legitimate governments. With the money gained by selling blood diamonds, rebel forces buy guns and ammunition or further fund their military operations. They can also use the money to bribe or coerce officials. Rebel forces often employ slave labor (including children) to mine the diamonds.

Identification

Once blood diamonds are smuggled out of their nation of origin, they can be integrated into the legitimate diamond trade and sold without anyone knowing. Without clear transparency in the process of diamond buying and selling as well as careful records noting where the diamonds came from, blood diamond traders cannot be held accountable for the atrocities at the core of their business.

Affected Nations

Blood diamonds most often originate from a quintet of African nations: Angola, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Ivory Coast and the Democratic Republic of Congo. All of these nations suffered under bitter civil wars at the end of the 20th Century and beginning of the 21st, with blood diamonds feeding the horrors already tormenting the populace of these countries. In some cases, these countries are attempting to turn the process around. Liberia, for example, is at peace as of this writing, and United Nation sanctions against the country have been lifted as Liberia attempts to remove blood diamonds from its gem industry.

The Kimberley Process

In 2000, the diamond industry created a method of certification to confirm that a given diamond came from a legitimate source. The method, known as the Kimberley Process, tracks and monitors the processing of diamonds from their rough state all the way up to the finished product, and institutes stiff penalties on those trading in noncertified diamonds. The Kimberley Process (named after the town in South Africa where representatives of diamond-producing states met to discuss the issue) received United Nations approval in 2002 and was put into force in 2003. Despite some flaws in the system, it has succeeded in reducing the number of blood diamonds for sale.

Transparency and Sources

In order to help reduce the impact of blood diamonds, consumers are urged to do their part as well. Demand proper certification for any diamonds you purchase, and look for diamonds that are specifically cultured (artificially produced) or are conflict free.