ContactPartner Area
HomeNewsNews

#BreakTheBias on International Women's Day

Gender equality in the textile industry

‘‘It is important to keep working on gender equality in the textile industry, especially since 80% of the workers in this sector is female’’, says Lisa Süss, the Coordinator of STITCH. ‘‘Gender inequality is still a huge issue. That is why we all embrace this year’s slogan of International Women’s Day: let’s #BreakTheBias.’’

STITCH the Sustainable Textile Initiative: Together for Change compromises of six organisations -CDI, Cividep, CNV Internationaal, ETI, FairWear and Mondiaal FNV- and is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The STITCH partners envision a global garment industry that contributes to an equal and just society by respecting human rights in the world of work.  In 2021, they joined together under a common goal: to make sure that the people who produce our clothes -mostly women- are put in the centre of all decisions and actions in the value chain.

One of the aims STITCH is to strengthen female leadership:‘‘If you want to stop harassment and discrimination of women at the workplace, an important step is making sure that women are equally represented.  Although most textile workers in factories are women, the management is predominantly men. If we want to address issues like gender based violence but also unpaid parental leave or dismissal because of pregnancy, we need to realize more female leadership within unions and NGOs.’’

 

Part of the STITCH programming is the Gender Market Tool, which serves as a check-list for STITCH partners to help guide them in implementing a gender lens in their project. It aims to start a dialogue and also learning on gender, supporting progression up the framework to ultimately improve the quality of programming and outcomes for gender equality. 

With these and other activities, STITCH commits to reducing gender-based disadvantages; addressing the stigma,  stereotypes, prejudice and violenence that workers can face; and facilitating women's participation in social dialogue and collective bargaining.

Join us during the first week of March to ask attention for addressing gender inequality by using the #BreakTheBias.

 #BreakTheBias 

Publication date 17 01 2022