RJC executive director steps down amid ongoing Russia conflict

The Accountable Jewellery Council’s (RJC) government director, Iris Van der Veken, has reportedly resigned from her function pursuing the organisation’s dealing with of Alrosa’s membership through the Russia-Ukraine war.

According to Rapaport News, Van der Veken handed in her resignation letter to the board of administrators on Wednesday (30 March) as she was “dissatisfied” with the body’s failure to suspend Russian miner Alrosa.

Alrosa voluntarily stepped down from the place of vice-chair of RJC, briefly leaving the board of administrators on 3 March.

The announcement arrives as Van der Veken celebrated her a few-calendar year anniversary at the RJC this 7 days.

It also comes just after Pandora declared its determination to leave the RJC over its failure to suspend Russian companies’ membership.

Alexander Lacik, Pandora CEO, said: “We are shocked and saddened by the unprovoked assault on Ukraine, and our feelings go to the people today of Ukraine, who are victims of this senseless act of armed service aggression.

“The war requires all enterprises to act with the utmost duty about any interactions or small business dealings with Russia and Belarus. Pandora are not able to in excellent faith be a member of an affiliation that does not share our values.”

Luxurious jewellery and observe house, Richemont, has also lately stepped down from the organisation, citing its determination to human legal rights through the RJC’s code of exercise and to provide chain because of diligence.

In the statement, the group stated it does not want to be users of an sector organisation that involves businesses that “contribute to funding conflicts and wars”.