The third edition of the OECD DDG was published in April and provides detailed recommendations to help companies respect ‌human rights and avoid contributing to conflict through their mineral purchasing decisions and practices.

It can be used by any company potentially sourcing minerals or metals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas. 

The council announced its support for the DDG after it attended the annual OECD forum on responsible mineral supply chains in Paris last week.

"The World Diamond Council is committed to establishing a sustainable and safe environment for mining communities, and we believe the OECD DDG assurance process is a critical factor for advancing that vision", said WDC acting president Stephane Fischler.

"Building on the Kimberley Process and along with the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, the International Diamond Manufacturers Association, the World Jewellery Confederation and the Responsible Jewellery Council, we are confident in the various industry initiatives that now exist to dramatically reduce conflict diamonds."

The WDC noted that the diamond industry was in a unique position to offer insight and guidance at the forum, as it had had the successful Kimberley Process certification scheme in place since 2003.

The process had made it the first mineral-based industry to introduce its own due diligence process for responsible supply chains in conjunction with governments and under the United Nations.