With International Women’s Day just passed and Mother’s Day coming up, It is worth reflecting on how choosing Fairtrade can play a part in the global effort to win true gender equality.
Choosing Fairtrade flowers is one simple way to make a difference. Order free Fairtrade flowers postcards to help convince your local florist to go Fairtrade and back women like Monicah (pictured below) fighting for a fairer future for the next generation.
Order a free pack of 20 postcards promoting Fairtrade flowers.
Pcitured: Monicah Wangui Kamau, a worker at Oserian flower farm in Kenya, who was able to send her daughter to secondary school and university thanks to Fairtrade Premium.
Female workers on flower farms have too often faced unsustainably low wages and discrimination.
That's why Fairtrade flowers exist. The Fairtrade Floor Wage offers guarantees on fairer pay, and gender equality measures are enshrined in the Fairtrade Standards.
With more places selling Fairtrade flowers in the UK, flower farm workers around the world can drive more positive change. After you order your pack of 20 Fairtrade flowers postcards, Fairtrade Foundation UK will send you extra information on how to get Fairtrade flowers blooming in your area.
‘Fairtrade has changed things a lot, women and men now have the same rights. There are regular working hours, fixed leave days and improved safety.’
Rosemary Achieng, Fairtrade flower farm worker, Kenya.
When it comes to gifts that stand up for a fairer future for women, flowers are a great choice. But they aren’t the only option – check out the list of ethical Fairtrade gifts.
From using Fairtrade Premium to build maternity centres to supporting stronger anti-gender discrimination policies on flower farms, women across the world are using the extra income from Fairtrade and the gender rights established in the Fairtrade Standards to build a fairer future.
“Women deserve power, ownership and independence, we work hard like the men.”
Odessa Michelle Grant, Fairtrade coffee farmer, Honduras. Odessa has led work in her community which has seen more women owning land, joining boards and keeping their own income.
As well as Mother’s Day, Comic Relief is coming up this weekend.
So for an extra gift that powers positive change, pick up one the ‘Mr. Men Little Miss Red Nose Day’ t-shirts, aprons or tote bags made with Fairtrade cotton, from TK Maxx or HomeSense.
Buy in-store at TK Maxx or HomeSense, or online.
The fight for gender equality remains truly global.
No one nation has abolished sexual abuse, closed the gender pay gap or ended gender discrimination.
But women denied enough income to pay for the essentials by deeply unfair global trade face even bigger challenges as they work hard to build a more just future.
Choosing Fairtrade, and convincing others to do the same, is one way we can stand with women like Odessa, who know "women deserve power, ownership and independence."
Campaigns Team, Fairtrade Foundation UK