A seminar on Empowerment of Women in Latin America's jewelry, diamond and gemstone sectors, organised as part of the Second Latin American Diamond and Jewelry Week at the World Jewelry Hub in Panama City on June 23, was attended by some 50 women from multiple countries, WJH said in a statement today.

The participants, from countries across the region and elsewhere, including Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Turkey, Romania, Italy and Panama, were all are owners of important brands in their home nations, it added.

The meeting covered a wide range of topics, all converging on the theme of elevating the role and influence of women in the various sectors that comprise the jewellery and gemstone industry in Latin America. It was agreed that, for the benefit of future generations, multinational cooperation is essential, and that more meetings of this sort should be held in the future, to monitor progress, to plan strategy and discuss specific programmes. On a more general note, the women discussed ensuring integrity and transparency in the business.

The seminar was moderated by two WJH executives: Ali Pastorini, Senior Vice President of both the World Jewelry Hub and its resident diamond and gemstone exchange, the World Jewelry & Diamond Hub, Panama; and Judy Meana, Vice President of the bourse.

Speaking at the seminar, Pastorini said, "We work in a business where the primary end-consumers are women. Does it not make sense that we should have more women in key positions? Would that not make the business stronger?"

Continuing, she stressed that women were not asking for special treatment, stating, "All we seek is the same opportunities as our male counterparts, without having to prove 20 times over that we are capable of leading. We do not ask to be given a step up or any unfair advantage. We just want a fair chance to help and decide what the best for the market."

She also referred to a recent study conducted by Mercer, one of the world's leading human resource consultants, which reviewed gender equality in the workplace. "Right now, according to the study, only 17% of Latin America executives are women, which isn't a statistic for us to be proud of," Pastorini said.

She, however, added, "But this is the only region in the world that, according to the study, is likely to approach gender equality at the professional level and above by 2025. If trends continue as are right now, 44% of all business executives in Latin America are likely to be women nine years from now."

She concluded by saying that the situation at the World Jewelry Hub was already different. “Of the three vice presidents in our senior management team, two of us are women," she continued, "and we also have a group of talented and competent women on our staff, just as we have talented and competent men."

Pic caption: The special seminar in progress