© AI-generated with ChatGPT
Gender equality is not a "nice-to-have". It is a prerequisite for democratic, sustainable societies. Worldwide, women – and especially women in precarious employment – are disproportionately affected by poor working conditions, discrimination and gender-based violence. Especially in global supply chains, such as sewing plants, plantations or electronics assembly.
© Gerd Altmann | Pixabay
The European Commission intends to reorient EU public procurement – and called for a 12-week consultation by business and civil society. FEMNET has delivered a clear opinion and calls for gender equality and social responsibility to be firmly anchored in European public procurement practice.
© FEMNET
How can the involvement of workers in the textile industry be transformed from a theoretical compulsory exercise into an effective, systemic practice? Using various practical examples such as the Dindigul Agreement, FEMNET's new study shows how companies can move from symbolic consultation to effective participation.
© Somo ⁇ Maartje Theuws
February 1, 2026 marked the fifth anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. Many people fighting for democracy and a better future now live in the jungle or organize underground. It is often overlooked that workers in border regions have been resisting for decades – mostly invisibly and without recognition. Their stories show how diverse, persevering and courageous the struggle for freedom in Myanmar is.
© FEMNET | Dr. Gisela Burckhardt
The European Supply Chain Act should enshrine binding human rights and environmental due diligence obligations for companies along global supply chains at EU level. However, after massive lobbying pressure, the directive was significantly weakened at the end of 2025. The overview shows which key elements remain, what effect the German Supply Chain Act has had so far – and what is now important when transposing the CSDDD into national law.
© FEMNET
After more than three years of intensive networking, almost 40 events and numerous encounters, the fashion interACTION project ends at the beginning of November. The content work will be continued in other formats.
© Initiative Supply Chain Act
With today's vote on the compromise text of the trilogue negotiations, the EU Parliament adopted the Omnibus I package – and thus decided on a massive weakening of the EU Supply Chain Directive.
The Supply Chain Act initiative strongly criticises this decision. The legislative package adopted today in Parliament cores the EU Supply Chain Act, a milestone in the protection of human rights, the environment and the climate, in essential elements before it could even be implemented in a single EU Member State.
© Initiative Supply Chain Act
Today, the trilogue negotiations on the Omnibus I package were concluded. Representatives of the European Parliament, the EU Commission and the EU Council have negotiated a final compromise text that provides for a massive weakening of core elements of the EU Supply Chain Directive.
Our partner organisations HEJSupport and ESDO have published a new study on chemical pollution in communities around textile factories in Bangladesh. As part of a community-based monitoring, soil, water, sewage and hair samples were analyzed. The results show a significant exposure to long-lasting and harmful chemicals as well as heavy metals.
Korail Dhaka 2024 © FEMNET | Sina Marx
A serious fire broke out in the informal district of Korail in Dhaka on 25 November. Around 1,500 homes were destroyed or damaged, and around 6,000 people lost their homes, including many textile workers. The fire hit the residents in an already tense situation, just a few days after an earthquake shook the region.
© FEMNET
At the end of October 2025, Bangladesh reached a significant milestone: The government has ratified ILO Convention No. 190, which prohibits violence and harassment in the world of work. In doing so, the country is committed to an internationally recognised intellectual property right for all workers.
© FEMNET ⁇ Rosa Grabe
It is widely known that in so-called high-risk industries such as textiles, electronics or food, there are devastating labour and human rights violations in the supply chain. On 30 October, we discussed with municipalities and representatives of civil society why gender equality is a central issue for fair procurement practices. It became clear: Municipalities have concrete options for action – and they can already make effective use of them today.
