The shadow side of the diamond trade. Are conflict diamonds only an African problem?
| V. Tatarintsev State Gemmological Centre of Ukraine |
| Language: Ukrainian |
| Precious and Decorative Stones. No. 1–2 (119–120), 2025: 17–23 |
| Abstract The article provides a chronological analysis of the origins and development of the Kimberley Process (KP) and the emergence of the term “conflict diamonds.” The study covers the period from the 1990s to January 2003, when the KP officially began operating at the international level. The analysis is based on archival materials from the United Nations, under whose auspices the KP was established and operates. as well as from the human rights organizations Global Witness and Partnership Africa Canada, which played a pivotal role in shaping the initiative. The research also draws on reports by Human Rights Watch, which monitors human rights violations worldwide. The article demonstrates that the definition of “conflict diamonds” is central to the KP’s mission. It argues that the problem of conflict diamonds is not limited to Africa but is global in nature, involving a wide range of actors — from rebel groups to suppliers, traders, processors, exporters, and importers — who may use diamonds as instruments to achieve political aims. The paper emphasizes the profound implications of this issue for the entire global diamond industry. |
| Keywords: Kimberley Process, diamonds, conflict diamonds, market, shadow activity, Africa. |
| References |
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