The 2024 annual report is entitled 'Together we are strong'. In these challenging times, this commitment is important. It is to be feared that the shift to the right in Europe and Trump as US President will have a negative impact on women's rights. It is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve change as political and financial challenges increase. This makes it all the more important for us, as a civil society, to stick together and stand in solidarity against adversity.
Ten years ago, Dr Gisela Burckhardt published ‘Deathly fashion and morality – why expensive does not mean equally fair’. The book exposes the widespread misconception that expensive brand fashion is automatically produced under fair conditions, and is therefore alarmingly up-to-date.
‘Men and women are equal.’ This is what Article 3 of the Basic Law states – and furthermore: ‘The state promotes the effective enforcement of equal rights for women and men and works towards the elimination of existing disadvantages.’ Is this the case in Germany? No. Gender equality remains a project and has not yet been achieved. Bonn is particularly behind.
Together with more than 75 other organisations from civil society, associations, churches, trade unions and companies, FEMNET has signed an open letter addressed to the current party leaders of the CDU/CSU and SPD. The letter addresses the need to regulate online platforms more closely in order to protect democracy and the common good.
© Initiative Supply Chain Act
Bonn. Friedrich Merz has torn down a firewall when, at the end of January, he brought about a majority in the Bundestag with the votes of the far-right AfD, instead of finding a response to the terrible murders together with the democratic parties. It's a dangerous caesura. What decisions will Merz decide as a possible chancellor together with the AfD? Right-wing extremism and anti-feminism are closely linked, according to scientific research. The AfD represents a reactionary image of women, and one of its leaders (Maximilian Krah) claims that ‘feminism is cancer’. Even though the AfD has Alice Weidel as its top candidate, the proportion of women in the AfD parliamentary group is just over 13 percent.
The shift to the right strengthens the danger of sexism, racism, misogyny. Almost every day there is a femicide in Germany. Every day, more than 140 women and girls in Germany are victims of a sexual offense.
© FEMNET
How consciously do you consume? The poster invites you to question your own clothing consumption and try out new ways. It encourages us to think about alternatives: Does it always have to be new, or are there sustainable alternatives such as secondhand, loan or exchange?
Universities can use their market power through a conscious procurement practice to achieve great things: The demand for ecologically and socially sustainable textiles and food promotes positive changes along global supply chains. For this reason, this guide supports administrative employees at universities in effectively anchoring sustainability criteria in the award process.
In order to reduce the bureaucratic burden of ESG reporting obligations, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the so-called Omnibus Directive on 8 November 2024. However, civil society organisations fear that the proposal could weaken key EU corporate responsibility laws.
© newafrica-depositphotos.com
The German healthcare system has a significant impact on ecosystems, climate and society. A key measure for the protection of people and the environment is sustainable textile procurement. This approach goes far beyond mere cost efficiency and actively contributes to the implementation of the Planetary Health concept.
© Julia Merkel ⁇ BMZ
The Textile Alliance celebrated its tenth anniversary on 28 November 2024 with a high-level event at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In addition to Minister Svenja Schulze, FEMNET CEO Dr. Gisela Burckhardt also participated in the panel discussion and contributed key points from a civil society perspective. Another highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding.
