FAIRTRADE COMMITS TO BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES

Original text at: http://fairtr.de/jQQ

Today we publish our Human Rights Commitment, clarifying our understanding of our responsibilities – and encouraging businesses to step up work on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD).

Today, Fairtrade International publishes its Human Rights Commitment, clarifying our understanding of Fairtrade’s human rights responsibilities – and encouraging businesses to also step up their work on Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD). The Commitment is the result of three years of dialogue among Fairtrade actors in Africa, Asia-Pacific, the Americas and Europe.

“We want to recognize our responsibilities, although Human Rights Policy Commitments are still rare among NGOs and multi-stakeholder initiatives,” says Mary Kinyua, Chair of Fairtrade International.

Fairtrade works in locations and supply chains that have many systemic human rights challenges: widespread poverty, deep imbalances of power, and discriminatory social norms. Fairtrade exists to empower farmers and workers and advance their rights – using ongoing support and training for farmers and workers, certification, partnerships, advocacy work, research and awareness raising. Yet, despite our efforts, human rights violations have also sometimes been found in Fairtrade supply chains.

Read the full text in its original publication: http://fairtr.de/jQQ