The jewelry industry has a major role to play in the sustainable development agenda of the United Nations, said Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, in his keynote address to the CIBJO Congress, which opened today in Bahia, Salvador.
The full text of his speech follows:
It is a pleasure for me to join you at the annual Congress of CIBJO in this beautiful city of Salvador. I understand that this is the first time that CIBJO holds its annual Congress in Brazil. This choice is quite appropriate in view of the tremendous dynamic economy of Brazil and its importance in sustainable development.
As High-Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, it is my mission to support initiatives that allow people and communities to prosper in a peaceful environment.
Allow me to tell you in a few words what the Alliance of Civilizations is. The Alliance was established by the international community to develop concrete strategies for a better understanding between the Western and Eastern worlds. It is my strong belief that by bringing together these two civilizations, which have coexisted for centuries, we can stem the movement of terrorism and extreme violence that has risen throughout the world since the beginning of this Millennium.
Terrorism arises where there is a lack of dialogue and respect among communities with different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. Wars and terrorism also arise when there is a lack of economic opportunities. Respect for cultural and religious diversity and sustainable development are inseparable. One cannot exist without the other.
When people feels desperate, they feel disfranchised from the core of society. This is especially true for the youth, one of the focuses of the Alliance. We fund projects to advance intercultural and interfaith dialogue between young people. We are a platform for providing educational material about the world’s diverse religions and beliefs. We aim to enhance relations between migrants and host societies. We support an open media that reports facts and information devoid of prejudice.
Without going too far in history, we know how the lack of respect for the indigenous culture and the exploitation of the native populations in an insatiable search for gold, silver and precious stones have plagued South America for centuries. More recently, we know how much illicit traffic of diamonds has fueled brutal civil conflicts in Africa. Uncontrolled mining of diamonds has sparkled violence, exploitation of workers and has contributed to environmental degradation. Diamonds instead of being the symbol of love, joy and the source of stable investments can become a curse when exploited for illegitimate gains.
However, we also know how much diamonds and the jewelry industry can contribute to sustainable development. The jewelry industry fuels job-growth in the various fields that are part of the long production line of jewelry. It is a driving force in both developed and developing countries to support creativity, culture and education. It is a thinking-tank for the new technologies associated with the extraction of precious stones, the design and manufacture of jewelry.
The jewelry industry has a major role to play in the sustainable development agenda of the United Nations. By fueling the creation of jobs, the jewelry industry can help to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. By providing education opportunities, the jewelry industry increases individual’s human potentials and provides the means for a productive life. By cutting down illegal traffic of precious stones, the industry supports fair trade and transparent financing. By developing strict standards for the extraction of precious stones and metals, the jewelry industry contributes to the protection of the environment.
Jewelry is an essential part of human heritage. Since the dawn of civilization, the jewels have been an expression of human creativity. Before technology allowed artisans to fashion jewels out of precious metals and stones, our ancestors used what nature provided them through bones, plants, stones to develop the art of jewel. Jewelry is also a way for humans to communicate. It showcases wealth, culture and religious affiliation. Jewelry is timeless and as old as humanity. Gifts of jewelry are ways to express affection and to help different cultural groups to bridge their differences.
I know how much the actions of CIBJO and the World Jewelry Confederation have been instrumental in fostering the goals of the United Nations. With the adoption of the Kimberly Process, an international control and certification system, CIBJO through the World Diamond Council was influencial in the creation of the coalition between government, industry and civil society to implement it. Together they supported the creation of a framework to stem the flow of diamonds that are traded illegally and that contribute to bloodshed, human rights abuse and civil wars.
In this respect, I would like to pay special tribute to Mr. Eli Izhakoff, who as the founding president of the World Diamond Council played an absolutely instrumental role in the establishment and implementation of the Kimberley Process, which all but eliminated the incidence of conflict diamonds from the pipeline. He provided an excellent role model for what can be achived when there is open dialogue between government, business and civil society.
In 2006, the United Nations recognized under the leadership of its President, Mr. Gaetano Cavalieri, and the importance of CIBJO and decided that the ability of the United Nations to reach its goals would be enhanced with a formal relationship with the organization. CIBJO was granted the status of consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Since then, CIBJO has reinforced its commitment to the United Nations and has taken on a series of measures for the jewelry industry to be an effective partner in finding solutions to eradicate poverty, hunger and develop responsible business practices. CIBJO constantly reinforces the message that the jewelry industry must follow the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The protection of human rights, labour and environmental issues, business codes of ethics, corporate social investment, corporate sustainability and governance issues are all essential for the growth of the jewelry industry.
Let me also recognise Fiera di Vicenza, its president Matteo Marzotto, and managing director, Corrado Facco, which is working with CIBJO to involve the jewellery industry in the ECOSOC programme. These type of partnerships are absolutely essential in helping build stronger and more sustainable societies.
The protection of the environment remains a key concern for CIBJO. It is clear that mineral extraction if not managed properly can have disastrous impact on the environment. I am pleased to hear that CIBJO is fully committed to the application of norms to minimize the impact of the industry on the environment and to robust and successful environmental management. Energy use and emissions, waste and recycling and use of water are all challenges that CIBJO intends to address.
I am also aware of the commitment of CIBJO to sustainable responsible business. CIBJO ensures the compliance of its members with the spirit of the law, ethical standards and international norms. CSR goes beyond compliance. CIBJO established an education foundation to promote the principles of CSR throughout the greater jewelry industry worldwide. With its educational projects, it engages in actions that further the common social good. It has designed together with the United Nations, a programme to educate members of the diamond, gemstone and jewelry industries, all over the world and in all sectors, from mine to market, about the principles of Corporate Social Responsibility, and how they may implement these principles in their businesses.
This coming September, world leaders will assemble at the United Nations and adopt a list of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Although the world has evolved in many ways, it still needs to move forward in matters of transparency, anti-corruption, governance and coordination. This is a crucial step in reducing disparities and creating a successful global partnership. As the close to the Milennium Development Goals (MDG) period nears in 2015, we will conclude a tough yet momentous 15 years. The year 2015 brings promises of a new era—one of positive change and continued growth.
Economic development, eradication of poverty and hunger, education are the prerequisites for a world devoid of conflict. CIBJO can be proud to be an esteemed partner of the United Nations in its commitment to a peaceful and prosperous world.