"Let's rebuild with justice is the message that summarises the demands of the Fair Trade movement at international level and which 230 organisations in our country have signed up to. (NGOs, solidarity economy organisations, ethical finance, environmentalists, social enterprises, educational, health and consumer associations, scientific societies, etc.). On the occasion of World Fair Trade Day (Saturday 8 May), we join the declaration "Let's rebuild with justice" issued by an alliance of organisations from all over the world:
- World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO)
- Fair Trade Advocacy Office
- Fairtrade
- Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS)
- CIDSE (Together for the global justice)
- Act Alliance EU
- The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM- Organics International)
- Social Economy Europe
- Wellbeing Economy Alliance
- International Cooperatives Alliance.
In this statement we call on institutions and political representatives to call for changes towards a fairer and more sustainable global economic and trade model in the post-COVID era.</p>
Our demands for this World Day are organised along four axes, from short-term and reactive to long-term and proactive proposals.</p>
PROTECT
- Ensure that workers and producers have personal protective equipment.
- As long as there are measures of social alienation and isolation, freeze taxes on businesses that produce basic necessities and guarantee affordable prices for basic necessities and for the inputs needed for agricultural production.
- Freeze taxes on businesses that produce basic necessities and guarantee affordable prices for basic necessities and for the inputs needed for agricultural production.
RESET
- Public incentive programmes should only go to responsible companies. They should comply with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. They should also comply with the OECD guidelines on responsible business conduct. They must implement responsible purchasing policies, promote gender equality and respect the environment. They have to make commitments to responsible tax behaviour. In addition, they must limit dividends to shareholders. Decision-making must be participatory and inclusive governance.
- Ensure that small and medium-sized enterprises have access to accessible and flexible financing. Offer preferential conditions for Fair Trade, social enterprises, cooperatives and agents of the Social and Solidarity Economy.
- Implement public policies that support Fair Trade, social enterprises and cooperatives. Also support organic farming and agro-ecological practices. These policies should help make these alternatives the norm. They should include business support for producer organisations to access new markets. Ensure preferential access to affordable and flexible financing. Promote public awareness, especially among young people.
RESTRUCTURE
- Adopt legislation to ensure that all companies and their suppliers respect human, labour and environmental rights, among other aspects, by improving purchasing and marketing practices.
- Adopt legislation to ensure that all companies and their suppliers respect human, labour and environmental rights, among other aspects, by improving purchasing and marketing practices.
- Promote the gradual transformation of conventional, profit-focused businesses to mission-focused business models that put people and planet before profit.
- Adopt ambitious national and, where appropriate, regional targets to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, rapidly reduce CO2 emissions and ensure that the global temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C, as required by the Paris Agreement.
FAIR DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES
- Reform tax systems to incentivise Fair Trade, organic products, social enterprises, cooperatives and other Social and Solidarity Economy actors and discourage supply chains based on the exploitation of people and the planet.
- Reform tax systems to incentivise Fair Trade, organic products, social enterprises, cooperatives and other Social and Solidarity Economy actors and discourage supply chains based on the exploitation of people and the planet.
- Make responsible public procurement the norm and give priority to Fair Trade, organic and social enterprises, cooperatives and other Social and Solidarity Economy actors in the awarding of public contracts.
With the declaration "Let's rebuild with justice" we, the organisations, are making a call on political representatives and international institutions to ensure that the recovery of the economy and trade in the post-COVID era prioritises Human Rights, the protection of the planet and is based on the values of Fair Trade and the Solidarity Economy./b>
You will find more information at https://comerciojusto.org/reconstruyamos-con-justicia/
- 08-05-21
