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© FEMNET

A report by our co-worker, Ohnmar Khin.

Two years ago, the military in Myanmar violently couped itself to power. After just a few days, there were countless arrests and deaths during demonstrations against the regime. At the forefront are textile workers who work in factories of international companies and continue to take to the streets today despite the great danger. At the same time, all Burmese in the country lack the most essential: The cost of living has exploded due to inflation and there is no longer sufficient medical care in the country. Many do not have the financial means to flee and those who manage to do so face new challenges and have to fear far away for their future and that of their families.

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© FEMNET

The close contact and regular exchange with our partners and local seamstresses forms the basis of our commitment to strengthening rights, due diligence and fair purchasing practices in the Global South.

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In the run-up to International Women's Day, more than 140 organisations, including FEMNET, are addressing the EU Commission, members of parliament and the EU Council in an open letter. They call for gender equality to be taken into account in the Directives on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence (CSDDD) published by the EU Commission. In view of the upcoming trilogue negotiations between the EU Commission, Parliament and Council on an EU supply chain law, it is crucial to make the directives effective and gender-responsive.

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The Klima & Klamotten-Jugendredaktion launched its first podcast episode last week! In it, she shares excerpts from an interview with Kai Nebel, Head of the research focus on sustainability and recycling at the Faculty of Textile & Design at Reutlingen University of Applied Sciences, as well as insights into our own reflection processes on how to deal with clothing.

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© J.F. Briggs

In November 2021, civil society in the Textile Coalition called for a more effective and effective Textile Coalition from the newly launched Traffic Light Coalition. What developments have taken place in the Textile Alliance and how should its restructuring be assessed?

It took around a year for the Textile Alliance to adopt a new structure, which was decided at the General Assembly in November 2022. In the following, the representatives of civil society in the Textile Alliance give an assessment of the new structure.

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Although the German government has advocated an effective EU supply chain law in the coalition agreement, German MEPs - in particular the European People's Party (EPP) - are actively trying to make the future EU law ineffective. Together with an alliance of 130 development, environmental, human rights and trade unions, FEMNET advocates an effective EU supply chain law and addresses the MEP, Axel Voss, with an open letter.

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Bonn. On 1 January 2023, the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act (LkSG) entered into force in Germany. From the point of view of NGOs, it is a good start, but we are not yet at the finish line. At EU level, the Commission’s proposal for an EU due diligence law has been in place since February 2022 and at the beginning of December 2022, EU Member States agreed on their provisional position in the Council. The Committee on Legal Affairs is currently preparing the position of the European Parliament. Time and again, the question arises as to whether multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) and certifications should play a role as proof of compliance with companies' human rights and environmental due diligence obligations, and if so, which ones? For some, membership in an MSI or submission of a certification should already be proof that the company complies with its due diligence obligations. Others hope that by joining MSI or using recognized certifications, companies can no longer be held liable for slight negligence.

All these discussed roles for MSI and certifications consider the NGOs signing here to be dangerous loopholes to the detriment of people and the environment, which must be prevented. This short paper puts together the main arguments against these loopholes (safe harbour).

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