The MRU workshop in Freetown had an ambitious agenda. It involved representatives of the four countries, with the help of industry and civil society, drawing up national and regional plans to implement the KPCS, combat the smuggling of minerals and enhancing the development and livelihood aspects of artisanal mining.
Although they produce only 5 percent of rough diamonds by volume, there are 1 million individuals involved artisanal diamond mining and at least 5 million others who are dependent on the revenues they provide.
At the end of January, the organization released for public review a key section of a toolkit, which is designed to assist companies involved in the diamond trade become compliant with the strengthened protocol.
When the company is Signet Jewelers Limited, the world’s largest diamond jewelry retailer, the concept of community encompasses the globe. The firm operates approximately 3,300 stores in the United States, Canada, Ireland and the British Channel Islands, primarily under the name brands of Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared, H.Samuel, Ernest Jones, Peoples Jewellers and Piercing Pagoda.
Elodie Daguzan, Executive Director of the World Diamond Council (WDC), has expressed the WDC’s strong endorsement for the regional approach by the Mano River Union (MRU) to reinforce the effectiveness of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPSC), declaring that it will assist artisanal diamond miners gain better access to the legitimate diamond supply chain, while receiving fair value for their work.
As I sit at home listening to the rain fall over the rooftops of Paris, and reflect on my first blog as the new Executive Director of the World Diamond Council (WDC), my phone keeps beeping
The World Diamond Council (WDC) is encouraging stakeholders to review the WDC System of Warranties (SoW) Toolkit. This follows its unanimous adoption as a working draft by the WDC Board of Directors and its review by WDC members.
The SoW Toolkit, which once released will be made available online at no cost to the industry, is designed to assist members of the diamond trade comply with the revised WDC SoW that was approved in 2018 and is scheduled to be phased in over a five-year period.
Elodie Daguzan is to become the new Executive Director of the World Diamond Council (WDC), following the approval of her appointment by the organization’s Board of Directors. She will officially assume duties on February 1, 2020.
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