© Pieter van de Boogert

19 April 2021

Dear friends of FEMNET,

This week marks the eighth anniversary of the worst factory accident in the history of the textile industry. In April 2013, 1,135 workers of the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka (Bangladesh) were killed and 2,438 injured. Many of them are still suffering from the consequences today. The compensation paid to victims and survivors is disproportionate to the suffering experienced by these people.

In response to the accident, the so-called ACCORD was launched in the same year – a legally binding agreement that ensured increased building safety (statics, electrics and fire protection), checked over 1,600 textile factories and improved the occupational safety of two million workers.

But now there is a threat of withdrawal from the agreement. The pressure on companies and businesses has eased over the years; There is a risk that companies will evade their responsibilities again. Together with the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), we are therefore committed to extending the ACCORD, and more: We call for the initiation of building protection agreements also in countries such as Pakistan and others.

In view of these negative developments, regulation of fashion companies' due diligence obligations is more important than ever.

A demanding German supply chain law must therefore come to oblige companies to respect human rights and environmental standards.

In a few days is the first reading in the Bundestag planned. But the bill was drastically diluted by the Ministry of Economy under pressure from the economy. For example, victims and survivors of disasters such as the factory collapse of Rana Plaza have no legal basis to sue in German courts.

Therefore, the Supply Chain Act has the Action Supply chain letter started. With just a few clicks, you can call on members of your own constituency to advocate for a strong supply chain law.

Make yourself strong for an effective supply chain law NOW and write to your MEPs, So that disasters like Rana Plaza never happen again!

Thank you for your and your support!

The FEMNET team

PS: Read more about supply chain law on our website!

Check out our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn channels – there will be a lot going on this week!

20.04.2021
Fashion R·Evolution in the wake of the pandemic – between scepticism and confidence
by FAIR FASHION FORUM in cooperation with Nord-Süd-Forum and FEMNET; with Dr. Gisela Burckhardt (FEMNET)

20.04.2021
The fashion industry in the corona crisis: Time to rethink!
von hamburg mal fair with Sina Marx (FEMNET) and Annekathrin Moor (Brands Fashion)

20.04.2021
Digital film evening "Made in Ethiopia"
from the network ‘Fairquatschen Köln’ with Anna Burst (kleiderei) and the filmmakers Victoria Gebhart and Jonas Stracke

21.04.2021
From Rana Plaza to Covid-19: Textile workers in crisis
the World Shop Association with Daniela Wawrzyniak (FEMNET)

21.04.2021
From cotton fields to hangers – what we mean when we talk about fair supply chains
by Fairtrade with Bettina von Reden (Fairtrade), Lisa Jaspers (#fairbylaw), Maret König (brands fashion), moderated by Aika-Maresa Fischbeck (FEMNET)

22.04.2021
Little Girls' Day - Something with fashion?
by LizzyNet and FEMNET with Karla Groth (LizzyNet) and textile design engineer Victoria Gebhart as well as textile engineer Anna Burst

22.04.2021
We are responsible! Gender Inequality in the Fast Fashion Industry and the (European) Supply Chain Act
by Heinrich Böll Stiftung Sachsen-Anhalt with Anna Cavazzini (The Greens/EFA) and Dr. Gisela Burckhardt (FEMNET)

23.04.2021
Fashion Revolution radio demo
by kleiderei, dublab.de, IGLU and CityLeaks Festival with contributions from Aika-Maresa Fischbeck (FEMNET) and other guests

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