The term “blood diamond” refers to a type of conflict diamond that is stolen and illegally mined. This kind of diamond is sold to raise funds for terrorism and rebel militia. The United Nations has created an initiative to combat the trade of this type of gem, and the United States is leading the charge. Purchasing conflict-free diamonds is a smart investment that will ensure your purchase is ethical. Below are some reasons why buying a new diamond is an excellent idea.
Intense international scrutiny
In the 1990s, when the term was first introduced, the diamond industry was facing intense international scrutiny over the use of blood diamonds in conflict situations. Traders in neighbouring countries could not certify the origin of these gems, so they were smuggled into the world market. In some cases, these gems were mixed with legitimate gemstones, making them impossible to distinguish. This led to many consumers believing that these stones were real.
In 2000, the United Nations Security Council released a report on the trade in blood diamonds. It highlighted the Anglo-South African company De Beers as a bad actor and pointed to the fact that it controlled 60% of the world’s rough diamond trade. It also criticised Antwerp, Belgium, which at the time was considered to be the biggest diamond market. It was noted that the country’s government did not certify diamonds sourced from conflict-torn areas.
Conflict diamonds
Although the UN has banned the trade of conflict diamonds, the trade continues. They are sold in jewellery stores worldwide, where the proceeds of the mining are diverted to fund a rebellion against the government. However, many of these gems are smuggled into the world market by unregistered traders in neighbouring countries. Because there is no reliable way to identify the source of these gems, they are mixed with other legitimate gems, which confuses consumers.
The reclassification of conflict diamonds as blood diamonds would expand the fight against these gemstones. As a result, it would target the diamond-rich countries that routinely violate human rights. It would be an effective way to stop the trade in these conflict diamonds. But there are many nuances to the issue. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding these gems. The term “blood diamond” is a misnomer.
Diamond is unclear
The UN definition of a blood diamond is unclear. The word “blood” refers to a gem that is used to finance a rebellion. The term “blood diamond” has a negative connotation. It is not a legitimate gemstone and has no value. The United Nations has banned this type of gem from the market, but it is still available in some countries. Besides being a human rights violation, the blood diamonds are sold as legitimate gems in jewellery stores.
In the 1990s, the UN defined blood diamonds as gems that were used to fund armed rebellions. In contrast, recognized governments can abuse their control over their legal diamond operations to enrich themselves and promote their associates. These countries can treat their workers brutally, and their profits are smuggled into neighboring countries. This practice makes it difficult to trace the origin of the blood diamonds. This makes the term “blood diamond” even more complicated.
Diamonds as gems
The UN defines blood diamonds as gems that are used to finance a rebellion. While there are many examples of conflict-free countries, this doesn’t mean that blood diamonds are always conflict-free. For example, Zimbabwe has been known to sell these gems to terrorists as the only legitimate option. There is no way to know for sure whether blood lab grown diamonds are legal, but they are sold in jewelry stores worldwide. Some countries have stricter requirements for the sources of these gems than others.
The Verdict:
Despite these challenges, blood diamonds are still being mined and sold in jewelry stores all over the world. As a result, unregistered traders in neighboring countries often purchase these gems from conflict-free regions. They are often smuggled with legitimate gems. Regardless of their provenance, however, they are not legal. They are not the same thing. Therefore, when you purchase a diamond, make sure that you know exactly where it came from and where it was mined.
