Revised CMIA standard to put increased emphasis on human rights
Non-profit organisation Aid by Trade Foundation has a new version of its Cotton made in Africa (CMIA) standard for sustainably produced cotton will come into force in 2026.
It said CMIA had always focused on respect for human rights, but that the new version of the standard would raise requirements for due diligence in human rights and risk management.
It said CMIA-verified suppliers of cotton in Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali will have to comply with extensive obligations to monitor, report and undertake corrective action with regard to human rights and environmental protection.
Farm and ginnery level training and other activities must be inclusive and accessible to all, the organisation has said. In future, training programmes will be designed and implemented in a way that promotes the participation of women, young people and vulnerable groups and takes their needs into consideration.
Aid by Trade Foundation said this would give the fashion brands and textile companies that use CMIA cotton “greater assurance”.
It made its announcement about the new version of the CMIA standard on December 10, which is Human Rights Day. The announcement also came at a time of rising tension in cotton-growing regions of Africa, particularly in Benin, where the government said on December 7 that it had foiled an attempted military coup.
