Blood diamondDiamonds: Keep blood off your hands
In the 1990s diamond-fuelled wars killed millions of people, displaced millions more and wrecked countries. The diamonds became known as blood diamonds. And it's not all in the past. The UN recently reported that $23million in blood diamonds had been smuggled from rebel-held areas of the Ivory Coast to international diamond markets.
You can play a key role in ensuring that diamonds are not used to fuel wars again.
Survey on top retailers' policies to combat blood diamonds
In a new survey Amnesty International UK and Global Witness reveals that many leading UK retailers still do not have effective policies in place to help British consumers avoid conflict diamonds. The survey of 42 top British retailers is released amid reports of continuing diamond smuggling and of conflict diamonds from West Africa reaching the international diamond market.
We agreed to amend our results if companies responded to our survey late. View the latest chart on top retailers' policies (PDF)
Take action
In 2007 the European Commission holds the Presidency of the Kimberley Process
- the certification scheme set up to stop the trade in conflict diamonds. Tell
the diamond industry to clean up the diamond trade.
Act now by sending an appeal to the World Diamond Council | your MEP
Blood Diamond: the movie
Set against the backdrop of civil war in 1990s Sierra Leone, Blood Diamond is the story of a South African mercenary and a Mende fisherman struggling to
find a rare diamond that the fisherman found when he was forced to mine for diamonds
by rebels.
About blood diamonds
Blood diamonds are those sold in order to fund armed conflict and civil war.
Warlords and rebel groups in countries including Angola, the Democratic Republic
of Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone have used billions of dollars of profits from
the sale of diamonds to buy arms and fund devastating wars. Diamonds mined in
rebel-held areas in Cote d'Ivoire, a West African country in a state of volatile
conflict, are currently reaching the international diamond market. More about blood diamonds
Campaign materials
You can download a campaign postcard to hand into jewellery shops and posters for organising local meetings. If you're thinking of buying a diamond, make sure you see our diamond guide first.
 [Acrobat PDF] | Diamond postcard |
| [Acrobat PDF] | Diamond poster |
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Blood diamonds in the news
- A Valentine's Day for people who love the planet The Independent, 13 February 2007
- Are diamonds now ethically clean? The Observer Magazine, 28 January 2007
- A trade in death and war, The Sunday Mirror, 28 January 2007
- Heal the world, The Guardian, 27 January 2007
- Peace is precious, The Guardian, 26 January 2007
- Davos 07 - the diamond curse, The Guardian, 26 January 2007
- We reveal the real cost of a blood diamond, Daily Mirror, 25 January 2007
- J-Lo tells diamond bosses: I'm not your best friend, The Independent, 25 January 2007
- Director attacks diamond campaign, BBC News, 24 January 2007
- 'Blood diamonds' film sparks campaign, People and Planet, 24 January 2007
- Amnesty says certification system failing, Radio 4 You and Yours, 23 January 2007
- What are conflict diamonds? CBBC News, 23 January 2007
- Movie sparks diamond trade row, CBBC News, 23 January 2007
- Q&A: Conflict diamonds, The Guardian, 22 January 2007
- Bling Bling! Corporate Watch, 22 January 2007
- Diamonds are a war's best friend, The Metro, 21 January 2007
- Blood diamonds stain India's glittering trade, The Observer, 21 January 2007
