New Internationalist Issue 281
Action
Central American Human Rights Committee (CAHRC)
Is an independent organization which promotes respect for the full range of human rights in Central America. CAHRC undertakes urgent actions in response to human-rights violations in the region, develops public awareness initiatives in the UK, and lobbies to influence policies in the European Union and in the broader international community. CAHRC is especially active on the behalf of labour unionists in Central America. CAHRC's Rapid Response Network (RRN) informs its membership of human-rights violations throughout Central America, and provides members with information about how they can help by writing a letter or sending a fax. To join RRN, write to CAHRC, 83 Margaret Street, London WIN 7HB, or Tel: (44) 0171 631 4200, or Fax: (44) 0171 436 1129, or E-mail: cahrc@gn.apc.org
Clean Clothes Campaign
Aims to supports the struggle of women workers in garment-producing units (factories,
sweatshops, home-based industry) for improved working conditions in the South
and North by making the European public more aware of their situation. For more
information, visit the Clean Clothes Campaign Tel: (31) 20 412 2785 Email: info@cleanclothes.org
Web: http://www.cleanclothes.org
Oxfam's Clothes Code Campaign
Is challenging the top five UK high street clothes retailers to adopt a code
of conduct which guarantees humane working conditions for the people who make
our clothes. The campaigns is primarily focusing on how garments are manufactured
in Bangladesh for sale in the UK. Consumers can help Oxfam convince Marks and
Spencer, Next, Selfridges, Top Shop, and C&A to ensure that their clothes are
made in humane working conditions by giving coupons asking for the fair treatment
of garment workers to these stores' sales assistants when you shop. To obtain
coupons, or for more information about the Clothes Code Campaign, call the clothes
line at: 44 01865 31, or visit the Clothes Code Campaign on our Web: http://www.oxfam.org.uk
Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador (CISPES) and
the National Labour Committee (NLC)
Were instrumental in pressuring the GAP to take responsibility for improving
appalling working conditions, and for upholding human rights in the Korean-owned
Mandarin maquilla factory that manufactures much of the GAP's clothing in El
Salvador. Thanks to the co-ordinated efforts of CISPES, NLC and many others,
the GAP has agreed to the immediate, independent monitoring of working conditions
in the Mandarin factory, and has forced Mandarin's management to meet with the
771 workers it fired in early 1995 for trying to organize a union. For more
information contact CISPES, PO Box 1801, New York, NY 10059, Tel: (1) 212 220-1290,
Email: cispesnatl@igc.apc.org Web:
http://www.cispes.org
International Centre for Trade Union Rights (ICTUR)
Is the representative at world level of free labour organizations on all five
continents. Established in 1949, it now has 174 affiliates, for the most part
national trade union federations, with a total membership of 120 million. ICTUR
has supported projects for trade-union women, with the help of development aid,
in nearly 60 countries. Most centre on union education and organization, but
women are also demanding socio-economic projects. All sponsored products are
set up in response to demands from women workers, and are planned, run, supervised
and monitored by them. ICFTUR is currently asking for donations to help Guatemala
union leader Reynold Gonzalez and his sister, who was abducted, raped, and tortured
because of her brother's activities. To contact ICFTU write to Bld Emile Jacqmain,
155, B-1210 Brussels, or Tel: (32 2) 224 02 11, or fax: (32 2) 201-58 15.
Labour Behind the Label
Is a network of UK groups and organizations concerned about the pay, employment
rights and health-and-safety conditions of workers in the international garment
industry. Labour Behind the Label aims to draw attention to the plight of garment
workers around the world, to campaign for the improvement of working conditions;
to encourage retailers to extend their responsibility for workers in all stages
of production, and to promote fair trade. Members of the network include: Catholic
Institute for International Relations, CAFOD, Ethical Consumer, European Contact
Group, Hundredth Monkey Ltd, National Group on Homeworking, Norfolk Education
and Action for Development, Oxfam, Textile Environmental Network, Traidcraft
Exchange, Women's Environmental Network, Women Working Worldwide, World Development
Movement. For more information, contact Women Working Worldwide at MMU Manton
Building, Rosamond Street West, Manchester M15 6LL, UK, or Tel: (44) 0161 247
1760, Fax: (44) 0161 247 6333, E-mail: info@women-ww.org,
Web: http://www.poptel.org.uk/women-ww
Maquilla Solidarity Network
Is a new initiative to promote solidarity between Canadian labour and social-movement
groups and Mexican and Central American counterparts organizing to raise standards
and improve conditions in maquilladora zones. The network supports innovative
organizing strategies that connect community and workplace issues, and address
health and environmental problems and the specific problems of women who form
the bulk of the maquilladora work force. To join the network, write to 606 Shaw
St, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 3L6, or Tel: (1) 416 532-8584, Fax: (1) 416
532-7688, E-mail: info@maquilasolidarity.org
Web: http://www.maquilasolidarity.org
Mujer a Mujer/Woman to Woman
Is a continental women's network focusing on the impact of free trade and restructuring
on women, that is helping to build connections between garment-worker organizations
in Canada, Mexico, the US and Central America. For more information on the organisation,
write to 606 Shaw St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 3L6 or Tel: (1) 416 532-8584,
or fax: (1) 416 532-7688, or E-mail: perg@web.apc.org
Web: http://www.maquilasolidarity.org
US/Guatemala Labor Education Project
Involves US unions in corporate and government lobbying in the defence of Guatemalan
maquilla workers' rights, US/GLEP was instrumental in supporting Philips-Van
Heusen (a men's shirt retailer) workers' efforts to form a union. US/GLEP is
currently asking for international support for Flor De Maria Salguero De Laparra,
who was forcibly taken off a bus, drugged, beaten, and raped three times on
May 17th, 1995, because she was a union organizer in Guatemala's maquilla sector.
Please write to President Ramiro de Leon Carpio, National Palace, Guatemala
City, Guatemala, Fax: (502)-2-515-667, and to Ambassador Marilyn McAfee, US
Embassy, Avenida La Reforma, 8 Calle Zone 10, Fax: (502)-2-310-564, asking that
Ms Salguero receive protection, and for an investigation into her abduction
and rape. For more information, write to US/Guatemala Labor Education Project,
c/o Interhemispheric Resource Center, PO Box 268-290 Chicago, IL 60626 Tel:
(773) 262-6502 Fax: (773) 262-6602, E-mail: usglep@igc.apc.org
Web: http://www.zianet.com/irc1/cbl/fairtrade/na/usglep.html
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign
Campaigns to raise political and material support in the UK for the FSLN and
popular organisations through lobbying, particularly in the labour movement;
organizing delegations and environmental work brigades to Nicaragua; co-ordinating
speaker tours by Nicaraguans; providing information and selling publications;
fund-raising and merchandizing, and working with a network of local solidarity
and twinning groups. For further information, write to the Nicaragua Solidarity
Campaign, 129 Seven Sisters Rd, London N7 7QG, or Tel: (44) 0171 272 9619, fax:
(44) 0171 272 5476, E-mail: nsc@nicaraguasc.org.uk
Web: http://www.nicaraguasc.org.uk
Australia
Latin American Information Centre, P.O. Box 4248, University of Melbourne,
Parkville, VIC 3052, Tel: (3) 9470 5330. Web: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/latinamerican/laics/laic.html#topLatin American Cultural Centre, 1 Bedford St, Newtown, NSW 2042, Tel: (2) 519 4874, Mondays and Wednesdays only, after 6.00pm.
Central American Welfare Information Centre, PO Box 357 Flemington, VIC 3031, Tel/fax: (3) 9376 9404.
Aotearoa/New Zealand
Trade Aid, PO Box 35 049, Christchurch, Tel: (3) 385 3535, Fax: (3) 385 3636, E-mail: tradeaid@chch.planet.co.nz Web: http://www.tradeaid.co.nz is currently engaged in a major campaign on conditions of bonded labour and child servitude.©Copyright: New Internationalist 1996
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