IJL London: Memorandum of Understanding Struck Between CIBJO and Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC)

CIBJO and Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) announce Memorandum of Understanding at IJL London Gaetano Cavalieri (left), President of CIBJO, and James Courage, Chairman of RJC, following  the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding  at the International Jewellery London Show. CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, and the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today at the International Jewellery London Show (IJL).  The MOU will work to further advance responsible business practices among all sectors of the jewellery supply chain, and will include the use of CSR education programmes developed by CIBJO, in collaboration with the United Nations, and chain of custody certification programmes developed by RJC.  The MOU reflects the willingness of both organisations to collaborate on efforts to entrench a solid understanding and commitment from the jewellery industry, to improve its performance in the crucial areas of human rights, social and environmental performance and ethical business practices. Among the key components of the MOU is the establishment of a MoU Working Group to oversee the execution of the agreement. The group will be headed by Gaetano Cavalieri, CIBJO President, and James Courage, RJC Chairman. They will appoint two industry representatives from their respective organisations to address the synergies inherent in the cooperation between these two global groups. "Our goal is to address proper business practise in the very broadest sense, and together CIBJO and RJC are able to provide comprehensive solutions," said Dr. Cavalieri. "The prime beneficiaries of this agreement need to be the greater jewellery industry, jewellery consumers and all of our stakeholders to the very grass-roots level."       "I am personally very pleased to be working with CIBJO and its President Gaetano Cavalieri and to be part of the MOU working group. I am sure there will be positive outcomes from this collaboration for the jewellery industry," said Mr. Courage.     *

About CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation CIBJO is an international confederation of national jewellery trade organisations with the purpose to encourage harmonisation, promote international cooperation in the jewellery industry, and to consider issues which concern the trade worldwide. Foremost among these is to protect consumer confidence in the industry. CIBJO relies upon the initiative of its member national organizations to support and implement its decisions and to protect the public's trust in the jewellery industry. CIBJO's affiliated foundation (World Jewellery Confederation Educational Foundation) has as its mission is to "conceptualise, develop and finance training manuals, courses, studies and working papers, educational and didactic tools, and other educational means to promote, increase and improve knowledge of social and economic corporate responsibility in the international jewellery industry and trade, within the scope of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals." CIBJO is the first and only organisation in the diamond, gemstone and jewellery sectors ever to receive official consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, and in this capacity committed its membership to promoting the fulfilment the UN's Millennium Development Goals. CIBJO is also a member of the UN Global Compact, and is committed to promoting its better business principles. For more details please visit: www.cibjo.org About RJC The Responsible Jewellery Council is an international not-for-profit organisation bringing together more than 440 member companies.  RJC and its Members are committed to promoting responsible ethical, human rights, social and environmental practices in a transparent and accountable manner throughout the jewellery industry from mine to retail. This commitment aims to reinforce consumer and stakeholder confidence in diamond, gold and platinum metals jewellery products. The RJC has developed the RJC Member Certification system which applies to all Members' businesses that contribute to the diamond, gold and platinum metals jewellery supply chain. All Certified Members of the RJC are audited by accredited, third party auditors to verify their conformance with the RJC's Code of Practices. A voluntary Chain-of-Custody Standard has also been developed for gold and platinum group metals. The RJC is a Full Member of the ISEAL Alliance - the global association for sustainability standards.  For more information on RJC Members, Certification, and Standards please visitwww.responsiblejewellery.com