CmiA explains that women play a key role in sustainable cotton cultivation but are at a disadvantage due to discriminatory structures and societal prejudices.
Through the Aid by Trade Foundation, it aims to address these issues.
This year's “Inspire Inclusion” International Women’s Day theme and aim to improve the integration of women aligns with CmiA’s pursuit of equal rights at all levels. For instance, the CmiA standard requires that women and men receive equal pay for equal work as well as equal access to resources and means of production. It also affirms maternity rights.
“It is important to make people aware of why gender equality matters and how it benefits everyone,” explained Tina Stridde, the managing director of the Aid by Trade Foundation. She continued: “We promote social, economic, and environmental sustainability in cotton production. This includes combating structural discrimination against women. We believe that sustainable cotton is not possible without equality.”
CmiA supports the economic and social independence of women and girls through community projects. Current examples include a project for organic shea butter in Benin and a project at a girls’ school in Tanzania, which is being conducted in collaboration with local partners and the fashion brands comma and S.Oliver, both part of the S.Oliver Group.
“We are convinced that a sustainable future can only succeed if it is based on equality,” stated Sabrina Müller, the head of global sustainability at S.Oliver Group, concluding: “A key aspect of this is ensuring that girls and women have equal access to education and to social and economic participation.”
To achieve this goal, the Aid by Trade Foundation, through CmiA and its partners, is working to ensure that comprehensive support for women and girls in cotton-growing regions will remain integral to its activities in Africa in the future.
