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Learning Center  World View on Blood Diamonds World Vision and Conflict Diamonds
Conflict Diamonds | World Vision and Conflict Diamonds | World Vision is one of the Civic Organizations who have participated in the campaign against conflict diamonds. Founded in 1953 by Dr. Bob Pierce, their main aim is to help children and their communities get a better life by dealing with poverty. World Vision is a sponsorship Christian organization which has operations in many parts of the world, focusing mainly in Asia and Africa.
In 2001, World Vision recognized the terrible situation of African children due to the conflict diamond trade. The tag line “Dying for a Diamond? Unfortunately, thousands of children are too” is one of their efforts to expose people to the violent truth behind conflict diamonds. These diamonds are no different from those that are legitimately mined – physically that is. However, the fact is that the practice and the aim of mining these diamonds are causing suffering.
Rebel groups in certain African countries take control of the diamond rich areas, displacing the families that live there. Yet not all the civilians are able to leave. Those left behind are forced to work as slave laborers in the diamond mines. Physical abuse is rife within these areas. In fact, the abuse goes as far as amputation – ears, limbs, anything that the rebels feel like cutting off goes. Women are sexually abused as well. Children are not exempt from this sort of treatment. In fact, even children are forced to work under inhumane conditions. In many instances, children die of “natural” causes or they are simply killed off.
Aside from the horrific conditions in diamond mines, children suffer from the wars and violence that is funded by sales from conflict diamonds. As the rebel groups initiate and continue to launch wars against the government, the civilians are caught in between the fighting. Prolonged fighting has also had a lasting effect on the living conditions in these countries. Malnutrition, lack of education, and preventable diseases are just among the few repercussions of such activities. Of course, who are the most vulnerable in such situations but the children?
Thousands upon thousands of people have been killed and even more injured due to such clashes. A large number of the casualties have been children.
In addition to the international efforts as well as the internal measures set by the US government, World Vision has presented some specific solutions to address the needs of the children. First and foremost they wish to implement “temporary emergency relief coupled with income generation and civil society mobilization” – together with other NGOs and the local governments. World Vision sees the need for empowering the common people through agricultural and food aid. More so, they want to educate the people to be able to support themselves in a sustainable manner – much like teaching the people how to fish instead of just giving them fish.
In his testimony to the US Congress in 2001, Rory E. Anderson – the Government Relations Manager, Africa Policy Specialist of World Vision – showed their support of the international measures but also called for stricter implementation as well as more specific programs that would need the cooperation of governments and other Civic organizations.
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