Ask jewellery shop if gift for loved one is a conflict diamond

Many women in Hong Kong probably received diamonds from their boyfriends and husbands on Valentine's Day.

They are a popular gift on February 14 and on other occasions when we want to give a symbol of our love. But for many people, diamonds symbolise conflict, misery and poverty.

In African countries such as Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sierra Leone, the profits from the diamond trade are used to obtain weapons and fund armed conflicts. This has resulted in tens of thousands of civilians being killed, raped, mutilated or abducted. Amnesty International, among other organisations, is calling for action to control the diamond trade.

Only a small percentage of the diamonds sold internationally are 'conflict diamonds', but proof of the origin of diamonds is essential to reassure the consumer they are not contributing to human rights abuses by buying a diamond. Amnesty believes diamonds must be monitored from the mine to the point of export and throughout the trading and manufacturing process in other countries. This situation does not exist at the moment and when we buy a diamond in Hong Kong we have no way of knowing whether or not it is a 'conflict diamond'.

Individual consumers can help. When you go into a jewellery shop, ask the jewellers if they know where their diamonds come from. Say you are concerned about diamonds contributing to human rights abuses and that you would be reassured to see proper certification of origin.

Don't let your gift of love contribute to someone else's misery.