All News & Press Releases

What are the specific risks faced by women in the textile and footwear industry? And how can these be minimized? What responsibility do companies and politicians in Germany have to create fairer working conditions? These and other questions will be the focus of the upcoming Speakers Tour of FEMNET and the SÜDWIND Institute, which will take place from 20 to 28 November in Bonn, Cologne and Berlin. Four experts from India and Indonesia working in the textile sector provide insights into the health risks workers face on a daily basis – and what changes are urgently needed to improve the situation.

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© annlarich - depositphotos.com

FEMNET and more than 160 international human rights organisations call on the World Bank to take a stand on the increasing attacks by the Cambodian government on human rights defenders. The joint statement is addressed to World Bank President Ajay Banga and calls for a clear signal against the repression of civil society in Cambodia.

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FEMNET has been working in the field of ‘fair public procurement’ for many years. The public sector in Germany invests about 500 billion euros annually in the purchase of goods and services (OECD 2019). As part of our membership of the CorA Corporate Responsibility Network Let's support an appeal, which calls on the Federal Government to adopt clear legal requirements for the consideration of human rights and environmental standards in the procurement of the federal, state and local governments.

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© Phillip Kofler - Pixabay.com

The Fair Wear Works project promotes ecological and social production conditions for textiles. With workshops, it offers active support for clubs to increase sustainability in the field of sports textiles and textile merchandise. VfL Bochum 1848 is the first club in the Bundesliga to implement Fair Wear Works recommendations.

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The second progress report on the Dindigul Agreement shows significant progress in the fight against gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) at Eastman Exports' Natchi plant. The agreement plays a crucial role in improving working conditions and underlines the positive effect of legally binding agreements negotiated with trade unions. Businesses and political actors are now more than ever required to extend the agreement.

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© Nicole Hoffmann Humboldt-Gymnasium Gifhorn

The Fairtrade Town Steering Group of the City of Gifhorn annually takes the Sustainability Days as an opportunity to present sustainability issues in the city – and also in schools. This year, four lectures on ‘Dirty Clothes’ took place at the Sibylla-Merian-Gymnasium in Meinersen, as well as at the Humboldt-Gymnasium, Otto-Hahn-Gymnasium and the Vocational Schools 2 in Gifhorn.

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© Mel Rangel

From 5 to 14 April 2024, FEMNET welcomed Tithi Afrin and Md. Shahinur Rahman from Bangladesh. The trade unionist Afrin and the labour law expert Rahman travelled through Germany together with FEMNET and gave insights into the current situation in the textile factories on their tour in universities and at evening events in various cities and presented the accident insurance in Bangladesh, the Employment Injury Scheme (EIS).

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© Tessa Stetter

Summer break? No, we stay active!

The members of the fashion interACTION Network They were also active in the summer and exchanged views on various topics. With more than 100 members who have a wide range of professional backgrounds and interests, the network holds a wealth of experience and competences. These were used in various event formats – to train, network and exchange with each other.

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© SUE

Annual meeting of the Association of Critical Shareholders on 14 September 2024 in Cologne discusses the Supply Chain Act.

Cologne/Bonn. At the annual meeting of the Association of Critical Shareholders, experts will discuss whether the German Supply Chain Act has already had a positive effect and what expectations are associated with the European Supply Chain Act. This year, the umbrella organisation is awarding its group-critical Henry Mathews Prize to Dr. Gisela Burckhardt and the organisation FEMNET.

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