Do diamond mines use child labor?

Because children are considered an easy source of cheap labor, they are regularly employed in the diamond mining industry. In some areas of Africa, children make up more than a small part of the workforce.

Is diamond mining unethical?

Even though many brutal civil wars have now ended, violence in diamond mines remains a serious problem. Many diamonds are still stained by severe human rights abuses such as forced labor, beatings, torture, and murder.

Are blood diamonds mined by children?

When the civil war ended in 2002, Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was issued to avoid the distribution of so-called “blood diamonds.” However, child labor does still exist, and children are only paid 0.15-0.6 U.S. dollars a day, if they are contracted by a performance-based reward.

How many children mine diamonds?

Diamond mining has funded conflicts that have utilized forced labor. An estimated one million children aged 5 to 17 work in small-scale mining (so-called artisanal mining) globally, and the number is said to be increasing.

What are the problems with diamond mining?

Diamond mining also has many detrimental impacts on the environment including soil erosion, deforestation, and ecosystem destruction. A major political effect of the diamond commodity chain, specifically at the mining level is blood diamonds. These are diamonds that are produced in war zones to finance civil wars.

The Curse of the Diamond - Battling Child Labor and Corruption | Global 3000

Are diamond miners exploited?

Many of the world's diamonds are mined using practices that exploit workers, children, and communities. A million diamond diggers in Africa earn less than a dollar a day.

Do diamond Miners steal diamonds?

Theft from the mines is just part of life on the Diamond Coast. De Beers spends millions of dollars every week buying stolen diamonds back so they don't flood the market and cause diamond prices to tank. The company has estimated that workers steal up to 30 percent of the mines' yield [source: The Atlantic].

How many diamonds are unethically sourced?

Because of the Kimberley Process, 99.8% of diamonds are now certified conflict-free and there is much greater accountability and transparency in the diamond industry. Unfortunately, just because a diamond has been certified by the Kimberly Process does not necessarily mean it is ethical or even conflict-free.

Why did children stop working in mines?

It was extremely unhealthy and dangerous work and it was common for children, and adults to be injured or even killed. In 1842 It became illegal for children and women to work in mines, but things didn't change immediately.

Do blood diamond miners get paid?

Some young men reported receiving bonded work to mine diamonds, meaning they were reimbursed for their labors with housing, but not money. Because of the insistent hours that these children are to work, many of them do not go to school.

Are Tiffany diamonds blood diamonds?

Tiffany & Co. only offers conflict-free diamonds. We have taken rigorous steps to assure that conflict diamonds do not enter our inventory. As global leaders in sustainable luxury, Tiffany & Co. is committed to sourcing natural and precious materials in an ethical and sustainable manner.

How are diamonds mined for kids?

Some diamonds are mined in open pit mines.

Soil and rock is removed so that rock containing diamonds can be collected. Explosives are used to break open the rock. Tonnes of rock is taken by trucks to a crusher. Many tonnes of rock has to be mined and crushed to get just one small diamond.

Was diamond mine slavery in Africa?

After civil war broke out in central and western Africa, diamond profits were used to fund wars, weapons, slavery and anti-government rebellions. Children and families were forced into slavery to mine diamonds, and the gemstone funded extreme violence and war among communities, destroying stability and peace.

Are any diamonds truly ethical?

There are only a few reliable sources for truly Conflict Free Diamonds or Ethically Sourced Diamonds. Australia, Canada and Botswana Africa are the most well known and prolific. The Australian Mines are the Argyle Mine owned by The Rio Tinto Mining Company, and the Ellendale owned by Goodrich Resources.

Is the diamond industry corrupt?

Government corruption and mismanagement of the diamond industry has led to dangerous conditions for miners — and not enough diamonds to pay the bills. “Approximately 1 million diamond diggers earn less than a dollar a day. That's 10% of the world's total diamond diggers.”

What human rights are violated in diamond mining?

Given these miners have five family members on average, 50 million people potentially end up abused and damaged as they struggle to survive working in the diamond mining work. Human rights abuses in diamond mines range from child labor, bonded labor and forced labor to ill treatment, violence and sexual assaults.

What was the youngest age that worked in the mines?

Children as young as 4 were put to work. In coal mines, children began work at the age of 5 and generally died before the age of 25. Many children (and adults) worked 16-hour days.

How old were kids working in the mines?

By the turn of the 20th century, the labors that the children of the working class performed were varied. In rural areas, young boys, some reportedly under age 14,⁴⁷ toiled in mines, sometimes working their fingers literally to the bone, breaking up coal.

How old were children working in mines?

Most children started work underground when they were around eight years old, but some were as young as five. They would work the same hours as adults, sometimes longer, at jobs that paid far less.

Are Blue Nile diamonds blood diamonds?

The Blue Nile Conflict-Free Diamond Policy

At Blue Nile, we only purchase diamonds through the largest and most respected suppliers who, like us, proudly adhere to and enforce the standards established by the Kimberley Process. All Blue Nile diamonds are warranted to be conflict free.

What are ethically sourced diamonds called?

Today conflict free diamonds are often called ethical diamonds to reflect a broader change in the diamond industry. Such as the fair treatment of miners, economic development of the communities in mining area and environmental protections.

What is an ethical alternative to diamonds?

Diamond Alternative: Sapphires & Rubies

Sapphires and rubies are a great diamond alternative because they are accessible in price, they come in many beautiful vibrant colors that fit any style and they are almost as hard as a diamond. In fact they are the 2nd hardest gemstone with #1 being a diamond.

Are diamonds used for money laundering?

Diamonds can be used to launder money in several ways, such as by purchasing diamonds with illicit funds, selling the diamonds for a profit, and then using the proceeds to purchase other assets. They can also be used as a medium of exchange in illegal activities, such as drug trafficking or terrorism financing.

Are diamonds traceable if stolen?

Each GIA certified diamond with a serial number is registered in the GIA records with the name and contact information of he who sent the stone in to be assessed. The number is inscribed on girdle of the diamond, and if found, can be looked up in order to track down who rightfully owns it.