Keith Peyton

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  Keith commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Buy Fair Trade Coffee And Support Women's Rights

  Dorothee Royal-Hedinger makes several excellent points in her blog. First, the idea that together women in Nicaragua formed a collective entity to better improve their lives is inspiring. All too often women are belittled by their male counterparts and unfairly disadvantaged—economically in this case. However, it does not stop at economics. When women are denied a fair wage, their ability to purchase land and acquire capital is diminished. Their social standing then falls shy of men because they do not have the ability to be self sustaining and independent of men.

  
  

  Second, the developed world should recognize its injustices against women’s entrepreneurial spirit and give them the opportunity to empower themselves. Unfair—and often illegal under the WTO—trade barriers and policies prohibit women from accessing developed markets and obtaining a fair wage.

  
  

  There are ways, as Royal-Hedinger mentions, that non-governmental organizations such as Resistance Coffee Project empower individuals to make responsible and informed decisions through their daily life activities such as purchasing a cup of coffee. By giving third world states a fair change in international commerce, marginalized women and their children no longer need to be the victim. Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) would be a key player in such longer term aspirations. A single state cannot solve this problem alone. Instead there are already in place several IGOs that have the ability and authority to begin to address this issue. The World Trade Organization in collaboration with the United Nations could reach an agreement to better negotiate with world markets on lessening restrictive trade policies. The International Monetary Fund could make a special effort on promote micro-loans for women.

  
  

  The mechanisms are there, it is only a matter of if the political will of the international community decides on furthering women’s rights. Self empowerment is the best way to accomplish this task. We can only hope for now.