CIBJO to host seminar on CSR

CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation is preparing to host a seminar on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the participants at the Inhorgenta show in Munich, Germany on February 20. The agenda of the seminar is to introduce the World Jewellery Confederation Education Foundation (WJCEF), a body established by CIBJO in cooperation with the United Nations, to administer programmes designed for members of the international jewellery, diamond, coloured gemstone and precious metals industries worldwide that promote corporate social responsibility, consumer confidence and sustainable economic and social development in countries and regions in which the industries are active.

A decision to establish the WJCEF was taken at the 2008 CIBJO Congress, and the foundation itself was officially created in Switzerland at the end of the year. "As we in the jewellery industry have been made very much aware of in recent years, the new approach by governments and the international community today is that social and economic development programmes cannot be funded simply by taxes and charity. Business is expected to play its part, and in particular they demand that the luxury product sector, and that includes jewellery, must demonstrate Corporate Social Responsibility. WJCEF was created to provide us with CSR framework and plan of action, and I am delighted that we will be able to outline this at Inhorghenta," said CIBJO President Gaetano Cavalieri.

The seminar will take place at the Europe Academy Inhorgenta, Hall C1, Booth 243, with the keynote presentation by François Loriot, vice president of AIFOMD, Swiss organisation that develops programmes to advance the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals. Mr. Loriot will present the basic elements of an industry-wide CSR training programme being established under the auspices of WJCEF, which has been designed for the various sectors of the greater jewellery industry. Also, Dr. Hanifa Mezoui, chief of the NGO Section of the United Nation's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which is the body responsible for coordinating the activities of the international community, national governments, civil society and the worldwide business community in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

CIBJO is the international jewellery industry's only official representative in ECOSOC and the United Nations.