The Diamond Development Initiative International (DDI International) has opened its annual industry fundraising campaign, which supports its efforts to foster fair prices, safe working conditions, education, human rights: at the grass roots of the African and South American diamond industry.
Two trade bodies, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC) and the International Diamond Manufacturers Association (IDMA) came forth with the first contribution for the campaign. Dorothee Gizenga, DDI executive director said, “The Diamond Development Initiative is working on a diamond industry problem, it needs and deserves diamond industry support.”
Dorothee Gizenga, further added, “Support from AWDC is very important to us, because this organization represents such a broad cross-section of the industry.” Commenting on the subject, Stéphane Fischler, president of AWDC said, “We hope that our contribution will encourage others in the industry to join this campaign”.
DDI's support to capacity building to enhance Kimberley Process (KP) internal controls complements AWDC's initiatives to provide training and technical assistance. AWDC actively helps countries to set up their internal KP legislation. AWDC is confident that DDI's efforts to regulate Africa's artisan diamond diggers will also contribute to a better level playing field for the KP.
DDI was initiated five years ago as a way of bringing industry, governments and civil society together to tackle the problem of Africa’s 1.5 million artisan diamond diggers.
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