idespread in India, where 90 percent of the world’s diamonds are cut and polished [Facts and Details]. Children working in the cutting and polishing phase can be forced to work as long as 16 hours per day.
Forced labor is no stranger to the diamond supply chain, particularly during times of war. For example, in 2008 Zimbabwean soldiers forced communities to mine for diamonds on the army’s behalf [BBC]. Those who resisted suffered beatings, rape, and torture. The following year, the army used forced and child labor to mine in the Marange fields of eastern Zimbabwe.
In many cases, debt bondage renders workers unable to quit diamond mining. In these situations a “creditor” rigs conditions so that the debtor can never pay off the debt, therefore remaining in bondage indefinitely. Bonded labor is especially prevalent in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Many women and girls are trafficked from the DRC into diamond mining camps in Sierra Leone, where they work as bonded laborers [Verite].
You know that movie wasn’t fiction, right?
And you’ve no doubt heard about “blood diamonds,” or you may remember the 2006 film Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Blood diamonds, or conflict diamonds, are stolen or mined illegally. They are sold to fund rebel armed forces or terrorist groups, and some sources say they have raised billions of dollars to fund civil wars and conflicts in African countries. Conflict diamonds come predominantly from Angola, the DRC, the Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Sierra Leone [photius.com]. When people don’t follow orders to excavate diamonds in poor conditions, they can be threatened, killed, or dismembered.
Ready for some good news, yet?
So what should Americans, as the world’s largest consumers of diamonds, know about the companies that want to sell to us shiny baubles? De Beers and ALROSA (Russian diamond giant) are the biggest players here, together producing almost half the world’s diamonds [resourceinvestor.com]. BHP and Rio Tinto are two other big players. These four companies together produce the majority of the world’s diamonds. De Beers has made unethical choices, including operating a cartel in the US and artificially propping up prices. The company also contributed to numerous taxes in South Africa, which led to migrant workers living in poor conditions [St. Antoninus Institute].
Happily, there are several companies that understand the importance of respecting human rights along the supply chain! Here are a few companies known for their ethical standards:
Tiffany & Co.
What are these companies doing right? Some, like Brilliant Earth, simplify their supply chains by working with laborers directly to ensure those workers receive a greater share of economic value [read more]. Some companies are supporting the development of fair trade diamonds (for which there is no certification yet). Additionally, some ethical companies like to source their diamonds from Canada or Botswana, because these countries have labor rights protections in place [Huffington Post]. In Botswana, diamond revenues actually go back into enriching the society – and we hope to see more countries follow this trend (too many governments keep the revenues to themselves for political power).
Now that you know, we hope that consumers who like a little glam can pause to think about the sourcing of diamonds and the practices of the companies they like. When you know what your money supports you can make responsible decisions, and you can feel better about your purchase! To learn about organizations that are geared toward human rights along the diamond supply chain, visit these links:
Partnership Africa Canada (PAC): http://www.pacweb.org/en/
Diamond Development Initiative (DDI): http://www.ddiglobal.org/
Madison Dialogue: http://www.fairjewelry.org/madison-dialogue-standards-for-ethical-diamonds/
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI): http://eiti.org/
Kimberly Process Certification Scheme (KCPS): http://www.kimberleyprocess.com/
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Editor's Note: Thanks to Be