By: Cecilia Gardner, Chair, Board of Directors, Jewelry Industry Summit
Several members of the Jewelry Industry Summit community were invited to present as panelists and attend this State Department sponsored day-long session on August 8, 2019. Focused on the jewelry supply chain, nearly 100 members of the jewelry industry participated in the conference which included discussions of the business case for a responsible supply chain, information on standards for artisanal supply chain, as well as the movement to empower female entrepreneurs in the jewelry supply chain. To comply with the Chatham House rule applied to this conference, participants and presenters are not identified in this report.
State Department officials and an FBI representative urged jewelry industry members to recognize that there are national security concerns pertaining to our supply chain and business practices. Human rights violations, environmental concerns, money launderingand labor practices were identified as elements of concern. Improving due diligence in these areas was encouraged in order to control bad actors and meet consumer expectations that jewelry products are responsibly sourced.
Numerous initiatives were highlighted that the industry has already undertaken to allow businesses to conduct transparent supply chains. Programswhere women were supported in the jewelry supply chain through training were described. Promoting diversity in the supply chain (as well and in the distribution sector) was also encouraged. Several tools that business could use to that end were also presented.
In general, the theme of the conference was to encourage the improvement of business practices in the supply chain and how to align social purpose goals with profit goals. The presenters and attendees left with good information about initiatives alreadyunder way, further actions that businesses should take, and with a firm sense that the US government is focused on our industry and their business practices.
Communication among members of our community as the US government pertaining to women’s empowerment and a responsible supply chain will continue!
Photo: Cecilia Gardner. Attendees of State Department Conference on Women’s Economic Empowerment