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.

PREVIEW THE LETTER, AND TAKE ACTION BELOW!

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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.

Urgent Action: Colombia, Abuse of Force Against Protestors

CALL ON COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT IVAN DUQUE TO CEASE MILITARY ACTIONS AGAINST INDIGENOUS PROTESTORS IN THE CAUCA REGION

March 28, 2019. Since March 10, thousands of indigenous people in Southwestern Colombia have mobilized in a Minga (community social mobilization) for “Life, Defense of the Territories and Peace.” The communities involved are demanding that President Ivan Duque make good on previous commitments around human rights, development, and the reigning-in of violence against community activists in the region. To date, the government response has been massive and ongoing repression of the Minga by the army and police.

CoDevelopment’s partner in Colombia – NOMADESC (Association for Research and Social Action) is appealing to supporters to urge President Ivan Duque Marquez to stop military-style actions against the Minga, and comply with human rights standards that the Colombian State has committed to uphold in international treaties.

NOMADESC and other human rights observers say both the Colombian army and specialized police have used the following tactics against communities involved in the protests:  Overflights of drones and helicopters, stun grenades and tear gas bombs; shootings with live ammunition, as well as burning the camps of the Minga participants.

The militarization of the territories where the Minga is taking place violates international human rights agreements of which the Colombian State is a signatory.  We encourage CoDev’s Canadian partners, members and supporters to take action on these events in Colombia.

Please add your voice by sending a message calling on Colombian President Ivan Duque:

• To stop employing military action as a response to community social demands.

• To make public the government’s human rights policy regarding Afro and Indigenous communities’ rights in accordance with the current human rights crisis.

• To investigate and identify those government officials responsible for the abuse of force against community members in the repression of the

You can also let NOMADESC and Minga participants know they are not alone by sending messages and photos of solidarity with the MINGA and human rights defenders.

Via Facebook to: Nomadesc: @AsociacionNomadesc Indigenous Regional Council from El Cauca: @cric.cauca

Use these hashtags: #SOSColombia #MngaSurOccidente2019 #DuqueVengaAlCauca #EnMingaPorElTerritorio #NacionParaLaVida #PoderParaLaGente #VamosAlParoNacional

Via Twitter: Nomadesc: @Nomadesc Indigenous Regional Council from El Cauca: @CRIC_Cauca

Use these hashtags:  #SumateALaMinga  #MingaCRIC  #MingaSocialSuroccidente  #MingaCRIDEC #MingaCRIHU