G3: Blood Diamonds
January 20, 2020 · 1:00-3:00 pm
Description: It is estimated that around 3.7 million people in Africa have died as a result of wars funded by conflict diamonds. Failed elections, money laundering, civil wars, etc. have encouraged a significant amount of illegal gem sales, with profits aiding rebel forces like the Revolutionary United Front and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and allowing for the continuation of civil unrest. Though reports differ, it is estimated UNITA produced about $600 million in diamonds annually in the late 1990s. These funds were used for foreign representation, travel, commodity procurement, and arms purchases, among other things. In 1998 UNITA repealed another peace treaty and returned to war with the Angolan army, prompting the United Nations Security Council to investigate sanctions-busting operations and helping focus international attention on the link between diamonds and conflict in Africa. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was established by the UN in 2000 to ensure that diamond purchases were not financing violence by rebel movements and their allies seeking to undermine legitimate governments. The US would eventually follow suit with The Clean Diamond Trade Act (CDTA) which requires all diamonds imported to the United States or exported from the United States to have the Kimberley Process Certificate. One version of this bill was written by former congressman Tony Hall of Ohio who points out that Americans buy more than half of the world's diamonds; without our support, the global effort to regulate this industry would not be successful.
Purpose: Learn more about the link between diamonds and conflict in Africa along with the global response
Facilitator: Tony Hall |
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