Read the latest issue of our newsletter for a review of our activities from January to February and find out what’s coming next! In particular, check our three highlights: Without seeds, there is no food The new EU seed regulation must recognise the importance of small farmers and support seed diversity to ensure a resilient and sustainable food system for the future. Corporate accountability After the EU Council agreement, the European Parliament’s vote on the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive concludes a long round of negotiations on corporate accountability. Govern ..read more

“Between safeguarding supply and promoting sustainable development: which role for the EU in South America’s “lithium triangle”? Insights from the case of Bolivia A Policy paper by Broederlijk Delen and CEDIB, April 2024 Policy paper Background In November 2023, a delegation of CIDSE’s Belgium member, Broederlijk Delen and its partner organisation, Centro de Documentación e Información Bolivia (CEDIB) visited the lithium exploration sites in the Uyuni region in the Bolivian Andes and participated in meetings with representatives of indigenous communities living near these sites. This policy p ..read more

CIDSE statement PDF VERSION CIDSE and its member organisations welcome the positive outcome of today’s plenary vote in the European Parliament on the CSDDD and encourage Member States to go beyond the final text in transposition and implementation Today, on the 11th anniversary of the Rana Plaza’s collapse, the European Parliament took a step forward and voted to adopt the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).  With this vote, the EU Institutions are about to see the end of a long round of negotiations for corporate accountability.   While the final text is ..read more

On World Heritage Day, CIDSE’s US Member, the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, released the following statement, as a member of the Maasai International Solidarity Alliance*, in support of the human rights of the Maasai in northern Tanzania. PDF VERSION April 18, 2024 On this day, known as World Heritage Day, we give thanks to God, our Creator, for the diversity of cultural heritage in our global community. As missioners committed to living the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with compassion and justice for all, we recognize that all persons are made in God’s image. We recommit ..read more

The first meeting of the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund established at COP28 in Dubai will take place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates from 30 April to 2 May 2024. Ahead of this important event, CIDSE and Caritas Internationalis sent a letter to the members of the Board to congratulate them on their appointment and to outline what they believe should be the priorities of the Board. PDF VERSION Dear Loss and Damage Fund Board Members, Congratulations on your appointment to the Board of the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF). We are grateful for your acceptance of this responsibility and your comm ..read more

On 24 April 2024, the European Parliament will vote in plenary on the proposal for the Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) marketing reform (2023/0227). This new regulation will shape the seed market and farmers’ seed systems for decades to come. On the occasion of the International Day of Peasant Struggles, we publish the following article by Patricia Verbauwhede and Bram Jacobs of Broederlijk Delen*, which outlines the issues at stake in this new legislation. “The European Parliament is currently discussing a bill for the production and trade of plant reproductive material within the European ..read more

CIDSE oral statement EN PDF On 12 April 2024, Ambassador Cristian Espinosa Cañizares, Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Open-Ended Intergovernmental Working Group (OEIWG) on Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Respect to Human Rights and Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations in Geneva, convened a consultation on the proposed draft roadmap for the 10th session of the OEIGW (Geneva, 21-25 October 2024). Our network was represented by François Mercier from Fastenaktion, CIDSE’s Swiss member organisation. Below is the text of the oral statement he delivered ..read more

A story of how local communities in Portugal are fighting against exploitation of their lands by large corporations  Read the tales here Demonstration at Barroso Mountains region In this blog, we share with you ‘New tales from the Barroso Mountains’, set in the region of Barroso, in Northern Portugal. The tales are written by Mariana Riquito & João da Montanha to further disseminate the struggle and voices of the local community around the ongoing conflict(s) over prospective lithium mines in the region.  Worldwide, transnational corporations are engaged in large-scale mining in ..read more

PDF version CIDSE is an international family of Catholic social justice organisations. We work with global partners and allies to promote justice, harnessing the power of global solidarity to achieve transformational change for people and the planet. We challenge systemic injustice and its destructive impacts through connecting, mobilizing, influencing and telling stories of change. We promote environmentally and socially just alternatives to allow everyone to thrive in our common home. www.cidse.org. The CIDSE Secretariat, located in Brussels, is currently looking for an: EXTERNAL FUNDIN ..read more

“Stop Big Oil Influence & Protect Human Rights at Azerbaijan Climate Summit”, over 150 organizations demand. Read the Open Letter A large coalition of over 150 civil society organizations, including CIDSE, is calling out oil industry participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in a bid to rid the process of a serious conflict of interest that could threaten the success of COP29, the UN climate summit due to take place in Azerbaijan in November. The recent announcement that Azerbaijan will include state oil boss, Rovshan Najaf, in the organizing committee, continues a wor ..read more