International Exchange Program for Lesotho and Ethiopia Sector Textile and Garment Workers
The Solidarity Center (SC) is submitting a proposal to conduct a multi-regional program between the U.S., Lesotho and Ethiopia, to exchange ideas and strategies to address the issue of gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) in supply chains in the textile and garment sectors.
The overall goal of the 2020 SC Exchange Program reflects the goals of ECA and the Fulbright-Hayes Act "to enable the Government of the United States to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries...; to strengthen the ties which unite us with other nations by demonstrating the educational and cultural interests, developments, and achievements of the people of the United States and other nations...and thus to assist in the development of friendly, sympathetic and peaceful relations between the United States and the other countries of the world.”
Objective 1: Strengthen women’s textile and garment workers in Ethiopia and Lesotho to promote gender equality and combat GBVH within their organization and their communities.
Objective 2: Educate, empower and improve textile and garment sector workers’ ability to exercise and defend their labor rights, and increase women workers’ self-advocacy and participation in their unions through training, education, and leadership development.
Objective 3: Share knowledge and strategies across regions to help spread ideas and potential remedies to instances of GBVH in the world of work for women in Lesotho, Ethiopia, and the US.