Facts about Conflict Diamonds
Conflict diamonds have funded devastating civil wars in Africa. Beyond the narrow definition of "conflict diamonds", blood diamonds are also associated with violence, worker exploitation, and environmental degradation. This section summarizes blood diamond facts that are impacting the diamond industry today.
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Violence
Although some of the civil wars once fueled by conflict diamonds have abated, blood diamonds are still causing horrific violence and untold human suffering.
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Efforts to Control
The Kimberley Process claims to have solved the problem of conflict diamonds, but it ignores human rights abuses and has failed to stop diamond smuggling.
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Labor
Many of the world's diamonds are harvested using practices that exploit workers, children, and communities.
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Environment
Due to poor planning and an absence of strong regulation, diamond mining has wreaked environmental havoc in countries across the globe.
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