What is a conflict diamond?

Conflict diamonds, also known as 'blood' diamonds, are diamonds from African mines that are used by rebel movements or their allies to illegally finance armed conflict.

In the late 1990s, the world became aware of militias illegally selling diamonds to finance civil wars to undermine legitimate and internationally recognised governments. As the awareness of conflict diamonds grew, the gemstone industry became increasingly concerned about the human suffering caused by this trade.

The Kimberley Process

Conflict diamonds cannot be identified by physical inspection, and are often shipped via countries that are not involved in conflict, making the origins the diamonds almost impossible to trace. In May 2000, the southern African diamond producing states met in Kimberley, South Africa, to come up with a system to stop the trade in conflict diamonds and ensure that their customers were buying gems that hadn't contributed to human rights abuses. From this meeting the Kimberley Process was born.

The Kimberley Process is an international certification system that regulates the trade in rough diamonds, and is supported by 68 international governments, the United Nations, the European Community and the diamond industry. The voluntary scheme came into operation on 1st January 2003 and helps to police the trade, transport and certification of diamonds, helping to eliminate conflict diamonds from the market. As a result of the Kimberley Process, conflict diamonds have been reduced from approximately 4% to considerably less than 1% of the total trade in rough diamonds.

QVC's policy on conflict diamonds

QVC works with its suppliers to ensure that all of the diamonds we sell comply with the Kimberley Process. We believe the injury and hardship suffered by any local population when conflict arises in diamond producing areas is unacceptable, as is seeking profit from the sale of diamonds from these areas.

You can find more information on our policy in the QVC Ethics and Legal Requirements section on the Vendor Relations pages on our website: www.qvcuk.com/vendorrelations.html. Our policy states:

'QVC neither supports nor condones the purchase or sale of so-called "conflict diamonds" or any other "conflict" product. QVC will not knowingly purchase or sell any product that originates from a group or a country which supports or engages in illegal, inhumane or terrorist activities.'