The World Diamond Council (WDC) has announced the launch of its newly designed website that upgrades the level of support provided both to its own members and the diamond and jewellery industries in general.

In a statement issued last week, WDC said that the site will also provide reports and updates on the organization's ongoing work within the Kimberley Process (KP), and its mission to protect the integrity of the diamond value chain.

Being more reactive and news-oriented, the new website opens a window into the functioning and approach of the WDC which represents the diamond and jewellery industries in the tripartite KP forum for the prevention and eradication of the trade in conflict diamonds, the announcement noted.

The new site will support ongoing programmes and projects being carried out by the WDC, including its Annual Meetings and participation in key KP events and programs, the organisation said. A newly added section focuses on the revised WDC System of Warranties, which was approved toward the end of 2018 and shortly will be augmented by online self-assessment tools, it was revealed.

WDC added that the website also includes an extensive Resource Library, containing documents, reports and presentations relating to the WDC's own work, as well as that of the KP and other international bodies in the campaign against conflict diamonds.

Another section of the new website has been designed to assist industry members interested in joining the WDC complete the membership application process, supplying information about conditions of membership, and providing downloadable forms, declarations and other instructions.

"The WDC operates in a dynamic environment, and we wanted the new website to properly reflect this and the essential work that is being done on behalf of the industry and its stakeholders, often without them even realizing it," said David Bouffard, Chair of the WDC Communications Committee, which has overseen the project. "Functionality was also a key goal, particularly as we now prepare to expand the self-assessment aspect of the WDC System of Warranties."