GJ Town India

Consumers’ key words are, 1: Ethically sourced diamonds &  2: Proof of respect for human rights!   WDC President Edward Asscher lists seven essential principles of responsible sourcing, covering human rights, labor rights and the environment, anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, supporting grassroots development in the mining and production areas, and differentiating between natural and synthetic diamonds. Members of the World Diamond Council (WDC) assembled for the organization’s Annual General Meeting on October 19, 2020, joined by invited guests, among them representatives of the governments involved in the Kimberley Process and members of civil society. In contrast to previous WDC AGMs, this gathering was not held in person but rather by videoconference, a consequence of the many travel restrictions in place worldwide because of the Covid-19 health crisis.   The new format of the AGM allowed for an abbreviated 90-minute session, comprised of a keynote add...

  2020, the year in which, everything changed!   It’s that time of the year again. The WDC Annual General Meeting is just around the corner, on Monday, October 19, 2020, and so much has changed since last year, both personally and collectively.   Elodie Daguzan, WDC Executive Director said, “ If I quickly look back to October 2019, I was still working at the offices of my former employer, Rubel & Ménasché, in the heart of Paris’ exclusive jewelry district. At the time I represented them in the WDC, and also in the Young Diamantaires’ group, which I will shortly mention.”   Fast forward 12 months, which seem like several years already, and like so many others I am working from home. But now I represent WDC, and in my new capacity I will be delighted to be a host of the first-ever virtual WDC AGM. By nature, I tend to see the best in every situation, but I admit I will miss meeting our members in person. At the same time, I realize that this new format will all...