The World Jewellery Confederation Education Foundation (WJCEF), a body established by CIBJO, the World Jewellery Confederation, in coordination with the United Nations, to instil the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility in the international jewellery industry and trade, has inaugurated its first ever Executive Course in Antwerp. The three-day course, which kicked off on June 20, emphasises the connection between CSR and the promotion of sustainable economic, social and environmental activity in countries in which the jewellery and gemstones industries are active.

Hosting the course in the Belgian diamond centre is HRD Antwerp, which also treated participants with a tour of its grading and research facilities.
 
“The jewellery industry has come a long way since the year 2000, and the understanding that we cannot allow our business to cause injury to innocent people is well and truly imbedded in our consciousness. But the demand that we do no harm is only side of the CSR coin. Our goal here is to consider the other side of that coin, and that is how the jewellery business acts proactively to bring about sustainable economic and social development in the countries in which we operate,” said Gaetano Cavalieri, president of CIBJO and WJCEF.
 
The general focus of the Executive Course was set on the first day of the proceedings, with the team of lecturers directing participants to the United Nation’s eight Millennium Developments Goals, which are meant to provide solutions to the most acute challenges to human society. Outlining the mission were Dr. Hanifa Mezoui, president of UN-ONG-IRENE; Dr. Francois Loriot, vice president of AIFOMD; and Dr. William Gunn, president of the International Association for Humanitarian Medicine.
 
Attending the course is Jocelyn Fenard, chief of Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). “This first training session organised through WJCEF by CIBJO, an NGO accredited to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, conducted by renown experts and trainers, is an important milestone for advancing corporate social responsibility in the diamond and jewellery industry, as a way towards supporting the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and promoting Global Compact principles. The level of interactivity and engagement shown by the participants, all worldwide executive managers, is really impressive. It furthermore demonstrates their commitment as well as the need for further training,” he said.
 
During the second and third days of the course, the participants, who come from the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, India, Italy, Switzerland, Israel, Canada and Madagascar, will study the application of CSR principles to small and medium-sized companies, together with CSR consultants Michael and Ivor Hopkins of MHC International; and will receive a special overview of Corporate Social Responsibility presented by Dr. M.J. (Mimi) Marroco and Ron Knowles, experts from the CSR Certificate programme at the University of St. Michaels's College in the University of Toronto.
 
On June 20, the first day of the Executive Course, the participants were hosted at Antwerp City Hall at special reception by Antwerp’s deputy mayor, Philip Heylen.