FEMNET NEWSLETTER No. 5/2017 - November

Content:

Political commitment
News from our partners
News from the association
FEMNET in the media
Tips & dates
Disclaimer

Dear friends of FEMNET,

We have a great party at our 10th. Birthday with many members and friends celebrated in the bread factory, the hall was occupied to the last place and the atmosphere was fantastic. We would like to thank you all for the numerous congratulations. Everything else below in the newsletter.

Now the winter season has begun, the round trip of Kalpona and Mim, our guests from Bangladesh, is over, but soon on 25 November is the Day against Violence against Women, a day of commemoration and action that calls for action.

We wish you a stimulating read,

Your FEMNET team.

Political commitment

Launch of initiative of the Textile Alliance in Tamil Nadu, India

Young women in a spinning mill in Tamil Nadu, behind them are Magnus Schmid (GIZ), Gisela Burckhardt (FEMNET) and Mr. Aloysius (NGO SAVE). Photo: © FEMNET

FEMNET has initiated the Partnership Initiative "Systemic improvement of working conditions in the textile and clothing industry in Tamil Nadu" as part of the Textile Alliance. After two years of preparation, the starting signal was finally given in mid-September in Coimbatore, India, with a kick-off workshop and 58 people. The German companies Tchibo, Otto, KiK and Hugo Boss, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development as well as FEMNET and Fairtrade are participating in the initiative.

On the Indian side, the government of Tamil Nadu, the business association SIMA, several local textile manufacturers, NGOs and trade unions participate. International organisations such as the International Labour Organization (ILO) are also involved. The initiative aims to build political dialogues between the state government, businesses and civil society in order to strengthen trust. On the other hand, training should take place. "After two years of intensive work, we can be proud that it is finally here," says Gisela Burckhardt from FEMNET.


News from our partners
Round trip southern guests: "Without international solidarity, we would be lost"
Mim Akter (left) and Kalpona Akter report on the struggle for survival in the Bangladeshi clothing industry. Photo: © by Ben Böhm	Wages in Bangladesh's apparel industry are among the lowest in the world. Working conditions have not improved significantly since the collapse of the Rana Plaza building in April 2013, with over 1,100 dead and 2,500 injured. However, the Accord building and fire protection agreement has increased the safety of workers before a collapse or fire. But this does not mean that women's discrimination, massive overtime and trade union persecution have disappeared. When thousands of workers went on strike for a higher minimum wage in December 2016 in the Ashulia textile region of Bangladesh, factory owners and the government relentlessly beat back to intimidate workers and trade unions. 600 workers and trade unionists were charged, 1500 were simply fired, dozens were imprisoned. Almost a year after the brutal suppression of the protests, Kalpona Akter and Mim Akter are in Germany at the invitation of FEMNET e.V. and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation to discuss the fight for better working conditions. and fairer pay. In the context of von public events and lectures in front of students, at symposia, panel discussions and press conferences, the two have highlighted international solidarity as essential support for their struggle. Stations of the tour We will send you a detailed report with the next newsletter.

News from the association
A committed and strong-voiced party
With many guests, the board and employees celebrated 10 years of FEMNET. Photo: © by Ben Böhm	More than 130 guests accepted the invitation of the FEMNET anniversary celebration and came together at the Kulturzentrum Brotfabrik in Bonn. After a welcome speech by Christina Morgenstern, Head of the Gender Equality Department of the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, FEMNET CEO Gisela Burckhardt looked back on the past ten years and praised her team and the many committed people. During the speech breaks, the women of A-Capella choir The Rhubarbs loosened up the atmosphere and sang, among other things, a birthday serenade specially written for FEMNET. The panel discussion with Kalpona Akter and Mim Salma Akter, two women's rights activists from Bangladesh, who report on working conditions in their country, was particularly impressive and insightful. "Fast fashion kills. Never forget: If you buy cheap clothes, there is someone who has had to pay for them. And that's not the brand, not the dealer, not the factory owner - it's the workers. We are the ones who pay! I would like to recommend to you: Buy less, buy clothes that you wear more often than just a few times and be responsible consumers!", Kalpona Akter told the guests on the way. Photos from the evening

Soroptimists honour FEMNET with the funding award
Handover of the prize to FEMNET board member Vanesse Püllen. Photo: © FEMNET	"I am a consumer ambassador" is the project with which FEMNET has secured this year's Women's Empowerment Award of the Soroptimist Club Bonn. He was handed over to the deputy chairman of the executive board Vanessa Püllen as part of a small ceremony in the auditorium of the Beethoven Gymnasium. With the help of the prize, which is endowed with 3000 euros, the project ‘Ich BIN Konsumambasserin’ (I BIN Consumer Ambassador) can be started at Bonn schools. The aim is to train female students to become responsible and critical consumer ambassadors who reflect on their own purchasing behaviour and take responsibility for social concerns. Read more...


The FEMNET anniversary booklet
	In September, we published our anniversary booklet with a review of the past ten years, an overview of our activities and an outlook for the future. In it you will find, among other things, a chronology that traces the most important FEMNET milestones and how a small club with one employee and 15 members became an association with more than ten employees and more than 100 members. Donors and activists explain why they are committed to FEMNET, and all projects introduce themselves briefly. In interviews with founding member Ines Holthaus and CEO Gisela Burckhardt, you will learn about the biggest successes and challenges of the past decade. Download the anniversary booklet

FEMNET in the media
Press review September-October 2017 12.09.2017: Does Primark fit the fair trade city of Bonn? Consumer critics meet Primark boss (Philipp Königs) Bonn general scoreboard 08.10.2017: Burckhardt: Harder than I imagined (Bernhard Hertlein) Westfalen Blatt 11.10.2017: World Girl's Day: Aid agencies criticize massive discrimination against girls Domradio 11.10.2017: Improving the situation of women (Heike Holdinghausen) The Daily Newspaper (TAZ) 18.10.2017: Courageous commitment to better working conditions (Gudrun Giese) Verdi 18.10.2017: Textile workers in Bangladesh – blacklisted after strike (Lalon Sander) The Daily Newspaper (TAZ) 24.10.2017: Green Fashion – Four eco-fashion stores with Cologne roots (Eva Reik) Kölner Stadtanzeiger

Tips & dates
Current dates and past events can be found on our FEMNET homepage. In particular, we would like to draw your attention to the following dates: 09.11.2017: Tenderer dialogue in Stuttgart "Go well and feel good" Bidder dialogue on eco-fair and social procurement of work shoes 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the town hall, Großer Tagungssaal, Marktplatz 1, Stuttgart. 14.11.2017: Fairquatschen-Treff in Bonn Exchange, plan actions and learn about FEMNET news 7 p.m., at The 9th, Stockenstraße 5 in Bonn city centre.

Disclaimer FEMNET Kaiser-Friedrich-Str. 11 53113 Bonn This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Tel. 0228 18038116 Board of Directors: Dr. Gisela Burckhardt, Vanessa Püllen, Susanne Kupka, Britta Amorinn, Anna Hoff Editorial team: Pamo Roth and Dr. Gisela Burckhardt Responsible within the meaning of § 5 TMG: Dr. Gisela Burckhardt Disclaimer: Despite careful content control, we assume no liability. File number VR 9568B at the District Court of Bonn.