Addressing the high-level segment of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on July 18 2023, Gaetano Cavalieri, President of the World Jewellery Confederation (CIBJO ), emphasized the potential of the jewelry industry as a force for positive social development, especially in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. UN Secretary-General António Guterres was among the leaders who attended the event.
The CIBJO Chair was again among a select group of NGO Chairs invited to the 36th Session to make an oral statement to the ECOSOC High-Level Segment. The session started on July 10 2023 ended on July 19 2023 and the theme of the session is "Accelerating Recovery from Coronavirus Disease and Full Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at All Levels".
CIBJO has had special consultative status with ECOSOC since 2006 as the only representative of the jewelry industry. "In the difficult economic environment that has developed in the wake of COVID-19, the World Jewellery Confederation's membership plays a crucial yet challenging strategic role," said Dr. Cavalieri.
"The presence of CIBJO members in low-income countries, most of which rank at the bottom of the UN's Human Development Index (HDI < 0.55), provides them with both a deep understanding of conditions on site and ample alternatives to support grassroots economic programs that promote sustainable opportunities," Dr. Cavalieri continued. "This is not only a moral imperative, but also a business imperative, as today's dominant Millennial and Gen Z consumers of high-end jewelry products are more than inclined to demand that the products they buy provide demonstrable social and economic benefits throughout the supply chain."
The CIBJO president pointed out that among the most vulnerable sectors in jewelry production are artisanal miners, sometimes referred to as the informal mining sector. "The percentage of artisanal mining varies by product type and accounts for about 20 percent of the global supply of gold and diamonds, but 80 percent of the supply of colored gemstones," he explained.
"CIBJO believes that artisanal miners must have controlled but achievable access to established industry supply chains to meet the challenges of the ECOSOC HLPF theme and the SDGs, and that this can be achieved through the development of formal due diligence systems to ensure compliance with recognized responsible sourcing standards," said Dr. Cavalieri.
"CIBJO has a responsibility to implement the SDGs through smart, efficient and innovative partnerships. We are committed to their realization," he told UN ECOSOC.
CIBJO shows a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through smart, efficient and innovative partnerships. It is gratifying to see how the jewelry industry is helping to shape a more positive future for society and the world at large.
Source: LinkedIn post by Laura Astrologo Porché from July 19th 2023
Image: cibjo.org