UK Wedding Planner Launches Conflict-Free Diamond Awareness Campaign

Nafisa Mark of wedding planners Nafisa Weddings & Events (http://www.nafisaevents.com/) has launched a campaign to draw attention to the poverty and suffering fuelled by the global diamond trade and to alert brides to questions they should be asking to ensure that their diamonds are conflict-free.

Nafisa is working to draw the attention of both brides-to-be, as well as the wider UK wedding industry to the appalling conditions of those who suffer as a result of sourcing so called 'blood diamonds'.

The diamond trade has, and continues to fuel some of Africa's most savage civil wars in countries such as Liberia and Sierra Leone. Some 200,000 people have been killed in Liberia and a million forced from their homes over recent years as a result of the fighting. The diamonds which are mined and sold by warlords to buy weapons have come to be known as "conflict diamonds".

Nafisa Mark comments: "Unfortunately to find out the history of a diamond, is probably not top priority when a couple is busy organising their special day, but I'd urge them to ask about the diamond's origin and ensure that it is 'conflict-free'. The wedding industry spends millions of pounds on diamonds every year, so brides are in a key position to actually do something about it."

'Conflict-free' diamonds are stones, the sourcing of which has not supported civil war, terrorism, or brutality against local populations. This designation arose in response to the turmoil surrounding the diamond trade in Angola, Sierra Leone, and The Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as other areas of South Africa.
Nafisa Mark suggests that all brides about to embark on a diamond purchase ask their jewellery dealer a series of questions put together by Amnesty International UK and Global Witness:

1. Where the diamonds you sell come from?
2. What is your company's policy on conflict diamonds?
3. Can you show me a written guarantee from your diamond suppliers that shows that your diamonds are conflict free?
4. How can I be sure that none of your jewellery contains conflict diamonds?

Nick Dearden, Campaigns Manager (Business & Human Rights) for Amnesty International UK comments: "Customers have a vital role to play in ensuring that diamonds do not fund deadly conflict in Africa. The wedding market is a key area to raise awareness about the role diamonds have played in fuelling some of the most violent conflicts of the last 15 years."

The spotlight will fall even more strongly on this issue when Warner Bros release their Hollywood blockbuster "Blood Diamond" in the UK on Friday 26th January. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, the film is set against the backdrop of civil war and chaos in 1990's Sierra Leone.

To ensure that all of her clients have access to conflict free diamonds, Nafisa has formed an exclusive partnership with DeJoria, an established UK based diamond jewellery business, created by John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of the world famous hair product brand Paul Mitchell.

Nafisa Mark commented "The partnership with DeJoria came about as a result of their stance on conflict-free diamonds - an important issue to many of our clients as brides don't want a love token tarnished by war. Also, their good reputation and extensive range of certified diamond rings, complements our wedding services well."

As wedding planners, Nafisa often receive enquiries for sourcing diamonds for clients, either for their engagement rings or their wedding bands. However, more recently they have had a number of queries about "conflict-free" diamonds. They believe that recent publicity has brought this issue to the forefront of the public domain. Therefore, couples want - and should rightly expect -reassurance that the diamonds they buy are genuinely "conflict-free".

John Paul DeJoria commented "It makes perfect sense for us to partner with Nafisa, as the natural progression for a couple buying a DeJoria diamond engagement ring is to move into planning their big day together. This exclusive partnership will ensure that our clients are offered the services of a professional on the most important day of their lives".

ENDS

For more information on Nafisa Weddings and Events campaign please contact:
Bill Hunt on +44 (0)20 7681 0051 or 07956 531515
Email: bill@muddyclay.com

For more information on Amnesty International's conflict free diamond campaign please contact:
Nick Dearden at Amnesty International UK on +44 (0)20 7033 1586
Email: nicholas.dearden@amnesty.org.uk