23  October  2013  

 

Bangladesh  Accord  launches  Bangla  website  

 

The   Accord   on   Fire   and   Building   Safety   in   Bangladesh   today   unveiled   its   new  website   in  Bangla,  to  take  its  messages,  objectives  and  work  to  audiences  across  Bangladesh.    

In  the  wake  of  fire  disasters  and  the  Rana  Plaza  building  collapse  in  April  2013,  the  Accord  on   Fire   and   Building   Safety   in   Bangladesh   has   over   100   signatories,   including   brands,  retailers  and  two  global  unions.  The  Accord  commits  the  signatories  to  the  goal  of  a  safe  and  sustainable   Bangladeshi   ready-­‐made   garment   industry,   in  which   no  worker   needs   to   fear  fires,  building  collapses  or  other  accidents  that  could  be  prevented  with  reasonable  health  and  safety  measures.    

The   new  website   (www.bangladeshaccord.org)   provides   a  wealth   of   resources   relating   to  the   structure  and  membership  of   the  Accord.   It  outlines   the  Accord  aims,   the  work  being  undertaken   to   improve   safety   for  garment  workers   in  Bangladesh,   FAQs,   the  Accord   itself  and  additional  resources  for  the  media  and  public  alike,  including  regularly  updated  sections  on  the  Accord’s  signatories  and  the  factories  covered  by  the  independent  agreement.    

The  Twitter  account  (@bangaccord)  is  already  helping  the  Accord  disseminate  its  messages  and  is  enjoying  growing  public  and  membership  support.    

Announcing   the   new   website   and   social   media   launch,   Sean   Ansett,   Interim   Executive  Director  of  the  Accord,  said:    

“It  is  vital  that  our  website  is  as  accessible  as  possible  to  stakeholders  and  organisations  on  the   ground   in   Bangladesh   to   help   improve   working   conditions,   and   to   inform   their  understanding   of   our   work.   The   website   also   provides   a   way   for   people   to   contact   the  Accord.  We  are  also  developing  worker-­‐focused  materials  to  reach  workers   in  Bangladesh,  to  keep  them  informed  of  what  the  Accord  means  for  them.  

“The  Accord’s  signatories  want  to  bring  positive  change  to  the  lives  of  garment  workers   in  Bangladesh,  who  have  had  to  bear  safety  conditions  that  have  caused  numerous  collapses  and   fires.   The  Accord’s  website   provides   a   vehicle   through  which   anyone   can   learn  more  about  the  Accord:   its  work,   its  reach,  the   importance  of  the   initiative  taken  by  this  unique  collection  of  brands,  retailers,  unions  and  the  NGO  witnesses  to  the  Accord.    

“Via  our  Twitter  account,  @bangaccord,  individuals  can  play  a  part  in  extending  knowledge  and  understanding  of  the  vital  need  for  action  and  the  positive  changes  that  the  Accord  and  its  members  are  bringing  about  in  Bangladesh.”    

Christy  Hoffman,  Deputy  General  Secretary,  UNI  Global  Union,  remarked:    

"This  Accord  marks  a  turning  point.   It  has  the  potential  to  transform  the  way  safety  issues  are   addressed   in   Bangladesh.   Part   of   the   process   is   a   commitment   to   being   open   and  

   

transparent  and  to  show  critical  information  about  factories.  This  website  is  a  step  towards  this  goal,  and  the  Bangla  website  can  deliver  the  Accord’s  messages  in  Bangladesh."    

 

For  further  information,  please  contact:    

Richard  Olszewski  on  07725  009722  or  richard@altcon.co.uk  or  

Tony  Sophoclides  on  07887  935335  or  tony@altcon.co.uk      

Notes  to  editors    

-­‐ The  Accord’s  website  address  is  www.bangladeshaccord.org    

-­‐ The  Accord’s  Twitter  feed  is  @bangaccord    

-­‐ The  Accord   for  Fire  and  Building  Safety   in  Bangladesh  was  signed  on  13  May  2013,   in  response  to  the  Rana  Plaza  factory  building  collapse  on  24  April  2013.    

-­‐ The   Accord   is   a   legally   binding   agreement   between   103   signatories   including  international   unions   IndustriALL   and   UNI   Global,   Bangladesh   trade   unions,   and  international  brands  and  retailers  (companies)  covering  1,557  garment  factories.  A  full  list  of  these  can  be  found  here:  http://www.bangladeshaccord.org/signatories/    

-­‐ The  International  Labour  Organisation  (ILO)  acts  as  the  Accord’s  independent  chair.    

-­‐ Sean  Ansett  was   appointed   Interim   Executive  Director   of   the   Accord   in   August   2013,  bringing   considerable   international   experience   in   the   field   of   ethical   trade   to   the  Accord’s   organisation.   He   will   play   this   role   until   a   permanent   Executive   Director   is  appointed.