Municipalities in Gießen adhere to Fairtrade practices

Gießen, Germany, played host to the 7th Network Meeting of Fair Trade Municipalities and Districts in Hessen, held at the Gießen Town Hall. Approximately 60 participants gathered for the event, which focused on the Fair Trade Towns campaign.

The meeting began with Mayor Frank-Tilo Becher praising the civil society engagement in Gießen, describing the local steering group Fair Trade Town Gießen as an "indispensable engine" of this engagement. County Councilor Anita Schneider highlighted the global significance of Fair Trade for fair wages and economic survival in the global South.

Simone Zorn from Fair Trade Germany presented current developments, followed by workshops to deepen knowledge in areas such as fair public procurement, education work, sustainable urban planning, and the strengthening of steering groups.

Participants expressed gratitude for the inspiring impulses, conversations, and exchange of experiences with like-minded individuals. Representatives from various municipalities and counties shared successful practical examples, such as the Fair Trade City Rally in Frankfurt am Main and the Clemens-Brentano-Europaschule becoming a Fair Trade School.

Becher emphasized that the Fair Trade Town certification represents broad civic engagement and local responsibility. He thanked all volunteers for their commitment to more global justice. The County of Gießen, which received "Fair Trade County" certification from "Fair Trade Germany" in January, takes responsibility for the global South within its sustainability strategy, implementing concrete projects in Mubende, Uganda.

The "Fairtrade-Towns" campaign started in 2000 in the UK and has grown to over 2200 campaigns in 26 countries worldwide. In Germany, there are over 914 certified cities and municipalities, including about 60 districts, as part of the campaign. The City of Gießen, which has been a "Fair Trade Town" since 2011, thanked all volunteers for their ongoing commitment.

County Councilor Schneider emphasized the importance of women in the global South, stating that they predominantly work under precarious conditions yet make significant contributions to their families and communities. She highlighted the need for fair trade practices to ensure a more equitable world.

The event concluded with a "Market of Opportunities", where initiatives and projects presented their work. The participants left the meeting inspired and committed to continuing their efforts towards promoting fair trade practices and improving working conditions for people in the global South.