An international measure is adopted in Antwerp to block rebel groups from trading conflict diamonds

The sale of diamonds in some African countries has been linked to the funding of African rebel groups, which have in turn funded some of Africa's most vicious civil wars. These rebel groups include the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone. According to the United Nations (UN), conflict diamonds, or blood diamonds, are "diamonds that originate from areas controlled by forces or factions opposed to legitimate and internationally recognized governments, and are used to fund military action in opposition to those governments, or in contravention of the decisions of the Security Council." On 19 July 2000, the World Diamond Congress in Antwerp adopted a resolution which would increase the diamond industry's capacity to prevent conflict diamonds reaching the marketplace. Other efforts to reduce the sale of conflict diamonds is the Kimberly Process, a worldwide consultation process of industry, governments and civil society. Almost ten years later, in February 2010, the Kimberly Process system is still in place. Currently, using the System of Warranties is recommended by the World Jewellery Confederation as a means to assess the source of diamonds through a monitored supply chain. References: Conflict Diamonds: Sanctions and War [online] Available at: www.un.org [Accessed 13 July 2010] Has the flow of conflict diamonds stopped? [online] Available at: www.commodityonline.com [Accessed 13 July 2010] On this day: July 19 [online] Available at: www.news24.com [Accessed 13 July 2010]