Consultative Roundtable on the draft World Gold Council Conflict-Free Gold Standard: Summary of discussions

On the 12th June 2012, the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) and the World Gold Council (WGC) held a round table discussion in Brussels to discuss the WGC draft Conflict- Free Gold Standard (‘the Standard’). The purpose of the meeting was to gather a broad range of inputs, share perspectives and provide practical comments with a view to finalising the Standard. A wide range of stakeholders, including representatives of the private sector, European institutions, African countries and NGOs attended the event. The round table discussion, facilitated by ECDPM, was held under Chatham House rules.

The WGC introduced the Standard and gave a brief historical overview of the origin of the Draft as well as the global intent of the initiative. More broadly, the Standard is based on the principle that responsible mining and its related activities is crucial in helping resource-rich countries to achieve sustainable development and to alleviate poverty.