Burmese rubies are like none other in the world in their color, clarity, and beauty. And degree of violence and abuse with which they are torn from the ground is unique as well. The Burmese military, which owns the vast majority of the ruby mines, forces very young children to work brutal days in the mines. The children are used to reach the deepest, smallest, and most dangerous pits. Adults who mine for the military are often paid less than $5 a month. Their constant exposure to mining conditions causes their skin to begin peeling off after several years, but many have no choice but to keep working.

Because of these documented abuses and because the proceeds from the ruby industry fund human rights abuses against the Burmese people, the U.S. and E.U. have embargoed Burmese rubies and jade since 2008. But the embargo is all but meaningless, since the ruby business is able to flourish with buyers from Asia, including China, India, Thailand, and Singapore. In fact, the ruby trade is so lucrative, rubies and jade together are Burma's third largest export. And those rubies don't stay in Asia; some of them end up in finished products shipped to the U.S. and Europe, labeled as Thai or Chinese.

Ask the UN to investigate forced labor, child labor, slavery, and other human rights abuses in the Burmese gem industry.