CONFLICT FREE DIAMOND

Conflict-free diamonds are diamonds that have been mined and sold without funding violence or human rights abuses. The term "conflict-free" specifically refers to diamonds that are not used to finance civil wars or other armed conflicts in countries where diamonds are a significant natural resource, such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone. In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the role that the diamond industry has played in financing conflicts in these and other countries, and there have been efforts to establish systems to certify that diamonds are conflict-free. One example of such a system is the Kimberley Process, which is an international certification scheme that aims to prevent the trade of "conflict diamonds."

The term "conflict diamond" or "blood diamond" refers to a diamond that has been mined in a war zone or under conditions of human rights abuse and sold to finance armed conflict against governments. These diamonds are often associated with human rights violations, child labor, forced labor, and environmental degradation.

To ensure that a diamond is conflict-free, it is important to buy from a reputable jeweler who sources their diamonds from certified ethical suppliers. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is an international system that aims to prevent the trade in conflict diamonds. The KPCS requires that participating countries ensure that all rough diamond exports are accompanied by a certificate that guarantees the diamonds are conflict-free. Many diamond companies also have their own ethical sourcing policies and participate in programs that promote responsible mining and trading practices.