JP Diamonds - Conflict Free Diamonds
Conflict Free - The Fith C
Q: What is a conflict diamond?
A: A conflict diamond originates from areas of the world where diamond mining is unregulated and where militant forces or mercenaries use diamonds to fund illegal activities within their own or neighbouring countries, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council.
Q: How many conflict diamonds are there in the world’s diamond supply?
A: There are no official figures to confirm the number of conflict diamonds in the world, however the diamond industry claims that it has reduced from 4% to 1% after the ‘Kimberly Process’ was introduced. Retailers cannot guarantee that the diamond you purchase is not a conflict diamond.
Q: What is being done to stop the conflict diamond trade?
A: Countries involved in the diamond industry, including governments, industry producers and traders, joined together in an effort to address the problem and introduced the Kimberly Process.
Q: What is the Kimberly Process?
A: The Kimberley Process was established by the UN, governments, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the diamond industry to stop conflict diamonds from entering the legitimate diamond and jewellery trade and prevent the trade in conflict diamonds. Now over 99% of world diamond production is from countries that participate in the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS). Kimberley Process scheme members have to meet specific requirements in order to ship rough diamonds which are certified as ‘conflict-free’.
Q: Who are the participants in the Kimberly Process?
A: By the end of November 2008 the Kimberley Process had 49 members representing 75 countries. The European Community and its Member States are counted as an individual member.
Q: What can we do to help stop the conflict diamond trade?
A: Make sure that you do not buy conflict diamonds by buying from a reputable jeweller who can answers questions about their diamonds, including where the diamonds are sourced from and if there is a written guarantee from the diamond suppliers confirming that their diamonds are conflict-free. Always ensure that the diamonds you purchase have a certificate.
