Conflict Diamonds Press Kit

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Conflict Diamonds

World Vision is leading a coalition of more than 150 organizations to stop the trade in conflict diamonds, which has funded civil wars in countries like Angola, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Liberia, and has been reported to fund terrorist activities outside of Africa.

Warlords often exert control over diamond-rich areas by killing, mutilating and raping those who live in them. In addition, militias force children, some as young as seven, to fight in their armies.

Americans buy 65 percent of the world’s diamonds, in an estimated market of over $60 billion. While Congress passed legislation in April that bans the trade of conflict diamonds in the U.S., the system is at its very beginning stages and is still in the process of being implemented.

World Vision continues to lead in advocating for a global process by which diamonds are traced from mine to jewelry store. In addition, relief and development programs continue in Angola, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. These programs are designed to help those who have been victimized by diamond warlords to restore their communities and regain their self-sufficiency.

For more information, please contact World Vision’s media relations staff at the numbers and addresses listed at the bottom of this page.

Experts

Press Releases

Click here to link to bios of World Vision staff with expertise in dealing in the Conflict Diamonds issue.

Elaine Bole
Serge Duss
Rich Stearns
Bruce Wilkinson

Clean Diamond Trade Act

The Clean Diamonds Trade Act (H.R. 1584) was passed by both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives April 9, 2003 and was entered into law April 25, 2003. Click here to read a summary of the legislation or the complete bill.