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About GoodElectronics

In the electronics industry there is still a lot to improve...

...on human rights and sustainable production. Poor working conditions and environmental damage can be found in the production of computers, mobile phones and other electronic products. The complicated product chain, high percentage of outsourcing, rapid product developments, weak unionized structures and lack of (inter)national law implementation contribute to this situation. The industry took the initiative to develop a sector code and working group for implementation. However stakeholders identify weaknesses in the code and its' implementation. Structural involvement of workers and local stakeholders in the code's development, implementation and independent verification has been lacking.

Civil society has an important role to play...

...in improving human rights and environmental conditions in the corporate sector. Experiences in the garment and coffee industry show that lobbying, public campaigning and strengthening the involvement of local stakeholders resulted in improved working circumstances and reduced environmental damage. Comparable initiatives in the electronics sector have been initiated. Their impact can be enlarged by creating more synergy in between actions taken by civil society and through bridging the gap between workers in the field and the bigger global players. Therefore a coordination point has been created to:

• Strengthen & stimulate civil society organizations and workers worldwide in their actions to improve human rights and environmental conditions in the electronics industry, with a focus on workers and grassroots organizations in production countries
• Improve corporate & public policy and practice in the electronics industry based on common demands

4 main strategies are used to do this:

• Consolidate an international network
• Exchange relevant information
• Facilitate & initiate lobby, research and campaigning activities
• Build capacities of local (grassroots) organizations

The network consists of...

...a coordination point, a steering committee and a network of participants consisting of human rights organisations, labour rights organisations, environmental organisations, trade unions, universities and individuals from Brazil, Canada, China, Congo, Europe, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Thailand, The Philippines, Singapore and the USA. The common aim of the GoodElectronics members is to contribute to human rights and sustainability in the global electronics sector.

The coordination point is hosted by SOMO (Centre for research on multinational corporations) http://www.somo.nl/ and is based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The steering committee consist of the following members: CAFOD (UK), CEREAL (Mexico), Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility ICCR (USA), the International Metal Workers Federation IMF (Switzerland), SACOM (Hong Kong), Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition SVTC (USA), Electronics Take Back Campaign (USA), SOMO (The Netherlands) and TIE ASIA (Malaysia).

If you'd like to learn more about this initiative, please contact GoodElectronics at info@goodelectronics.org.

the pictures on the website are made by Chris Gregerson