Women leading change in global supply chains – ways forward for HRDD in 2025

Webinar: Women leading change in global supply chains – ways forward for HRDD in 2025

This joint webinar will address gender-based violence and exploitation within global garment and leather supply chains by bringing together key stakeholders to share insights, challenges and examples of practical action where women are leading change.

The webinar aims to support the exchange of knowledge and promote meaningful stakeholder engagement and tangible collaborative approaches to human rights due diligence and tackling gender-based violence and exploitation. The webinar aims to outline why it is key to engage with marginalised women in supply chains and provide inspirational examples of how to go about this.

Key take-aways you can expect to leave the webinar with:

•     A deeper understanding of the imperatives to addressing the rights of marginalised women in your supply chains in human rights due diligence work
•     Two tangible examples from garment companies engaging directly with the affected women to create lasting change that can inspire your own work
•     Insights into why purchasing practices play a key role in sustaining solutions and lasting change and effective ways forward in addressing gender-based violence and exploitation 

Moderator: Mie Tingsager, Etisk Handel Danmark

Speakers:

Setting the Scene: Why Marginalised Women Must Be at the Centre of HRDD 

Heidi Furustøl, Executive Director, Ethical Trade Norway (10:35-10:40)

Sets the scene for why ETI members should ensure that engaging directly with marginalised women in global supply chains is solidly embedded in their human rights due diligence work and how this relates to global HRDD frameworks and legislation.

Addressing Intersectional Discrimination as a Root Cause of Exploitation and GBVH in Global Supply Chains

Meena Varma, Executive Director, International Dalit Solidarity Network (10:40-10:50)

Shares perspectives on why it is crucial to directly address intersectional discrimination—such as that based on caste and gender—and to include communities directly affected in developing solutions for creating lasting change on the factory floor, in the cotton fields, tanneries, workshops and among homeworkers.

Worker Led Solutions: A Dalit Women-Led Union Driving Change
L. Navmani –General Secretary, TTCU, Thivya Rakini, President, TTCU, and Nandita Sivakumar, Advisor, TTCU (10:50-11:05)

Dalit women led trade union, the Tamil Nadu Textile and Common Labour Union (TTCU) will present a model of due diligence developed in collaboration with sourcing brands. TTCU, a signatory to the Dindigul Agreement—an enforceable brand agreement (EBA) between a major supplier, TTCU and international brands to eliminate gender-based violence —, will highlight how hyperlocal, Dalit women-led union leadership collaborating directly with brands enables meaningful grievance resolution, prevents violence through trusted community engagement and offers a scalable alternative to conventional approaches. They offer insights into the challenges and successes from the workers perspective of this approach and also the ways forward in creating lasting change.

The Brand Perspective: Lessons from Collaboration with TTCU

Yvonne Büchold, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Drykorn and Andreas Weis, CSR Manager, Drykorn (11:05-11:15)

Presenting a case from the brand perspective of working directly with TTCU through a hyperlocal collaboration to improve the working conditions of garment workers in Tamil Nadu. Speaking on their experiences so far and the steps taken that may inspire other brands to pursue similar strategies. 

The Primark Cotton Project: Creating Lasting Change with Women Cotton Farmers in India

A representative from Primark (11:15-11:25)

This session will explore the positive impact from direct engagement with women cotton farmers in India through the Primark Cotton Project. The case highlights how supporting women at the root of the supply chain can contribute to enhancing their skills and knowledge whilst improving their livelihoods. 

Purchasing Practices as a Lever for Change

Elisa Shepherd, Senior Advisor Business Practices, Ethical Trading Initiative

ETI-UK (11:25-11:30)

This session will explore the crucial link between responsible purchasing practices (RPP) and human rights due diligence in supply chains. You will gain insights into how the way a company manages its buying processes can either reinforce or undermine its commitment to human rights. The presentation will highlight how RPP can serve as a practical support mechanism companies can use with partners seeking to create safer and more respectful workplaces. 

Questions [Mie/Ethical Trade Denmark sums up and opens up for questions]

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