Urgent Action: Threats Against NOMADESC Members

CoDevelopment Canada is concerned by escalating threats and surveillance against Colombian partner NOMADESC during the past month.

NOMADESC, a Cali-based Human Rights organization that accompanies labour, afro-Colombian, indigenous and campesino organizations in southwestern Colombia, has provided legal advice and support for families of people killed, disappeared or detained by security forces during the national general strike that began in late April this year.

Since that time NOMADESC and its personnel are subject to a series of acts of intimidation and illegal surveillance that has escalated since late October.  We are concerned that this act put both NOMADESC’s personnel and the population they serve at greater risk.

Please join us in writing to Colombian President Ivan Duque and Attorney General Francisco Barbosa, calling on Colombian authorities to ensure the safety of NOMADESC personnel and to investigate police involvement in illegal surveillance of the organization.

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Urgent Action: Gildan Activewear

Canada’s Gildan Activewear must comply with Honduran Labour Law!

Support CoDev partner the Honduran Women’s Collective and join us in urging Gildan Activewear to comply with a court order to reinstate fired sweatshop workers.

A Honduran court ruled last June that Canadian corporation Gildan Activewear must reinstate five workers fired four years ago from its San Miguel factory, located in a northern Honduras Free trade zone.  Gildan illegally fired the workers In 2017 after they developed occupational musculoskeletal damage that affected their ability to sew garments for export to the US and Canada.  The workers, members of the Honduran Women’s Collective (CODEMUH), challenged their dismissal, winning the support of the Honduran Social Security Institute, which certified their disabilities as work-related and recommended transfer to different duties at the factory. When Gildan refused to comply, the workers challenged the Canadian company in court. Despite the June court ruling that orders Gildan to reinstate the workers, the company refuses to comply.

Join us in writing to Gildan Activewear Executives in Canada and Honduras to urge them to obey the law and reinstate the fired women.

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Urgent Action: Attack on Guatemalan Women's Sector

CoDevelopment Canada is alarmed by a break-in that took place early on March 8 at the Women’s Sector’s offices in Guatemala City.

Sensitive information, such as accounting documents and files on women’s organizations in Guatemala, were stolen. As well, the assailants took the Sector’s computers and other equipment, while other materials were destroyed. Paradoxically the organization’s cash box remained untouched.

The Women's Sector is a broad alliance of 33 Guatemalan women’s organizations. It has worked for women’s rights in Guatemala since 1994, when the Sector was created to provide a voice for women in the Peace Talks aimed at ending Guatemala’s armed conflict. Since then the Sector has suffered 4 break-ins. This year, the Sector was the lead organization of the coalition organizing International Women's Day in Guatemala, including activities to denounce violence against women and girls. Unfortunately, the materials they had prepared for IWD were also destroyed during the break-in.

CoDevelopment Canada is concerned for the safety of the staff and members of the Women’s Sector. The attack is a severe blow to Guatemalan women’s organizations and their work. It is important to highlight that this attack on the Guatemalan feminist movement occurs in the context of new legislative initiatives restrict the work of civil society organizations and to defend and promote human rights; as well as an initiative in the Guatemalan Congress to grant amnesty to those convicted of committing crimes against humanity during the armed conflict, including genocide, enforced disappearances, torture and sexual violence.

CoDev encourages our members and supporters to call on Canada’s Ambassador in Guatemala to condemn the break-in at the Women’s Sector, as well as other acts of intimidation against Women’s organizations in Guatemala.