Economic and Social Development

Economic & Social Development

Mission

Through International partnerships and a global network of members Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls.

The goals are:

Soroptimists will ensure that women and girls will:

• Enjoy equity and equality.

• Live in safe and healthy environments.

• Have access to education.

• Have leadership and practical skills

In this area of our Programme work:

Objectives

• Eliminate poverty and gender discrimination through ensuring women’s full social and economic rights

• Assure women’s advancement in management, politics and decision making

Important dates for your diary 2008

• Fairtrade Fortnight 24th February – 9th March

• UN World Food Day 16th October

• UN International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 17th October

UN Day for Eradication of Poverty

On the 17th October 2007 - Over 38.7 million people, in 110 countries broke the Guinness World Record - for the largest number of people to “STAND UP AGAINST POVERTY” in 24 hours.

The “Stand Up and Speak Out” record attempt was jointly organised by the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) and the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) with a wide range of other partners. The challenge saw millions of people standing up against poverty, inequality and in support of the Millennium Development Goals. They spoke out to demand a more urgent political response to the growing crisis of global poverty.

United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, who led a stand up action at UN Headquarters in New York, said “Today tens of millions of people are making their voices heard by standing up and speaking out against poverty and for the Millennium Development Goals. They are sending messages that call on their leaders to keep their promises. They are calling for the actions of citizens to be matched by the actions of Governments, in developing and developed countries alike, to demonstrate the political will required to end the scourge of poverty once and for all."

Congratulations and many thanks to all Soroptimists who participated in this wonderful achievement.

FAIRTRADE

Fairtrade is a rapidly growing international movement which seeks to guarantee a better deal for farmers and workers in the developing world. Many farmers and workers in developing countries struggle to provide for their families. Poor market access and unfair trade rules often mean that the price they get for their crop does not cover the cost of production. A product that is Fairtrade certified carries a label the FAIRTRADE Mark

For a product to display the FAIRTRADE Mark it must meet international Fairtrade standards. These standards are set by the international certification body Fairtrade Labelling Organisations International (FLO).

As new members of the Fairtrade Foundation SIGBI will have:-

• Free coverage on their web site with a link to our own SIGBI site

• The opportunity to feature in their magazine ‘Fair Comment’

• The opportunity to participate in exciting new Fairtrade initiatives

This will ensure that we achieve recognition for the work we do. Our clubs in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malta, Africa, Asia and Caribbean countries can provide a wide perspective that will be helpful to our partnership, that of growers, producers and consumers.

A spokesperson at the Fairtrade Foundation states:-The success of Fairtrade and the FAIRTRADE Mark in the UK is built upon the commitment of our grassroots supporters and our member organisations. They have successfully created and driven forward awareness raising campaigns and events that have taken Fairtrade to every part of hundreds of communities across the UK. From churches, to synagogues, to schools to workplaces Fairtrade now has a presence. We are pleased that the Soroptimists have joined the Fairtrade Foundation and look forward to working together to take Fairtrade to the next level and ultimately to transform the lives of thousands of producers.  

Many thanks to Penny Veness for all her hard work over the last four years in moving us forward, our clubs have responded and have been working on Fairtrade projects, particularly Fairtrade fortnight, many clubs have been instrumental in establishing Fairtrade Towns, and ensuring more Fairtrade products are stocked in our supermarkets and other outlets.

Fairtrade Fortnight 2008 24th February – 9th March

We can make it a fortnight to remember:-

• Organise a Fairtrade event

• Promote Fairtrade in your town or city

• Encourage supermarkets and other outlets to stock more Fairtrade products

• Get involved in the Fairtrade bus Tour which will be touring the UK

African, Asian and Caribbean countries can get involved from a growers/producers perspective, to give a good insight into the effect that development of Fairtrade is bringing to local producers, suppliers, economies and communities.

We are hopeful in the coming year to feature articles in ‘Soroptimist News’, ‘Fair Comment’ and our website of this work, highlighting Fairtrade Tea Estates in Asia, Coffee plantations in Africa, and banana and fruit juice Producers in the Caribbean. Through our programme work we have an opportunity to transform lives and work towards a sustainable future for all.

Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs)

The Fairtrade Foundation, and also the Trade Justice Movement of which SIGBI is a member, have asked us to support their campaign on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). To put this in context

Trade Justice Movement says:

“Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stated that the UK's international trade policy must move to address world poverty. One of the current challenges for his Government is to address concerns with unfair trade deals, called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), with 76 poor African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. .

The Trade Justice Movement is calling on the UK Government to use its full influence to stop unfair deals going ahead, to listen to the serious concerns of poor countries and work with those countries to develop new deals that will help deliver trade justice”.

Fairtrade Foundation states

“EPAs in their current form will have a severely detrimental effect upon the livelihoods and futures in the very communities that are currently benefiting from Fairtrade”.

In the UK we can take action by writing to the Government, sample letters have been prepared by UKPAC Lobbyist Christine Tobias and can be found on the UKPAC site under ‘Lobbying Section’ or sign the on-line petition at www.tjm.org.uk, which will also give you more information on this subject. This will be short term as the closing date for the petition is February 2008.

I look forward to working with you, and to reading your programme reports

Sue Challoner

APD Economic and Social Development