The World Gold Council (WGC) says [it] is pleased with the industry’s reception of its Conflict-Free Gold Standard (CFGS)…[T]he CFGS provides a common approach for gold producers, through which they can…provide assurance that their gold has been extracted in a manner that does not…contribute to serious human rights abuses…The CFGS…is the first initiative developed by the private sector that provides an approach for operating in areas affected by armed conflict…[However,] [i]mplementing the CFGS is the responsibility of individual companies…[and] the council…will not certify companies’ performances…[C]ompanies looking to conform to the standard need to have evidence of conformity acknowledged…[T]he WGC is keen to ensure that issues pertaining to the formalisation of artisanal gold mining are dealt with.