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Women and children are especially vulnerable to the toxic effects of chemicals. Women, in particular, may have varying susceptibility to toxic chemical exposure due to physiological differences and factors related to their reproductive cycles. It is crucial to ensure gender equality and empower women and girls to play critical roles, particularly in decision-making around, toxic chemical exposure, pollution prevention and waste management.
- Women’s Working Group Statement at INC 3 on Plastic PollutionToxicity throughout the life cycle of plastics affects our health, leading to infertility and irreversible disorders, particularly in women.
- Women Leaders and the Importance of Fostering Women LeadershipWomen leaders educate families and local communities about toxic chemical health threats, care for children suffering from exposure, and generate data that justify the urgency of addressing the health effects of toxic chemicals.
- Women and Chemicals Session at the Tomorrow without Toxics ConferenceHEJSupport is happy to announce our Session on Women and Chemicals, wich is jointly organized with WECF, AWHHE and ToxicsLink.
- New UN Human Rights Report on Toxic PlasticsThe report by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxics highlights the human rights implications of toxic additives in plastics and the life cycle stages of plastic, including the rights of women, children, workers, and indigenous peoples.
- Women and ChemicalsThe second edition of HEJ!Youth’s international magazine focuses on a variety of issues related to chemicals exposure on women.
- Sustainable Fashion – everything you need to know about your clothesHEJSupport new on-line information resource on sustainability related topics in the textile and fashion industry provides a platform for progressive voices willing to share their vision and ideas on different aspects of sustainability in the textile and garment industry.
- Changing the way we use chemicals: what women should know to protect themselvesIn May 2021, HEJSupport was an invited scholar to speak at the Caribbean Poison Prevention Week webinar on “Gender and Chemicals”.
- New on-line course on SAICM Issues of ConcernWith this course we hope to expand the discussion about the future of SAICM beyond 2020 and involve many people and organizations from around the world into the conversation.
- Take Action Against J&J to Protect Women’s Health GloballyDid you know? Talc-based baby powder is linked to ovarian cancer. J&J knows, yet it refuses to stop pushing this dangerous product to Black and Brown women around the world.
- New Fact Sheet: Gender mainstreaming in chemicals and waste policiesThe fact sheet provides a quick overview of examples of texts in international agreements and national legislation that emphasize a gender perspective.
- Women and Mercury: new approaches to minimize mercury exposureOn June 17, 2020 HEJSupport held a webinar on the topic of women and mercury. HEJSupport brought together internationally recognized experts to share new approaches to minimize mercury exposure and highlight the needs and voices of women.
- Webinar Invitation Women and Mercury: new ideas how to reduce the risk for womenThis webinar brings together international experts to discuss ways to minimize the impact of mercury on women.
- How international bodies address women and chemicalsFind a list of legal texts and information sources from international organisations.
- Join our new Women and Chemicals Webinar SeriesWe are happy to announce our new webinar series on women and chemicals. Learn more about the topic and contribute to the global discussion.
- The developing fetus can be affected by the chemicals to which the mother is exposedDespite thousands of studies that highlight its health effects, the global BPA market continues to increase at about 3 percent per year and is projected to top seven million tons by the end of 2023.
- Webinar “Plastic- and Toxic-free Menstruation Products”HEJSupport together with Women`s Voices for the Earth and Women Environmental Network hosted a webinar on plastic- and toxic-free menstruation products. You can find the presentations here.
- Plastic and Toxic Free Period ProjectHEJSupport announces a new project on toxic chemicals, health, and plastic pollution. The project entitled “Plastic and Toxic Free Period” is supported by Funding for Social Change Ltd and is part of a broad initiative on plastic and toxic free disposable and reusable menstrual products.
- Launch www.ptfperiod.infoWe are happy to announce the launch of a new website, www.ptfperiod.info Our new website is designed to inform people who menstruate about plastic and toxic chemicals in hygienic products, their health and environmental effects, and the availability of more sustainable, plastic and toxic free options on the market. The site involves global perspectives and provides a platform for NGOs and individuals to share their stories, activities and good practice examples.
- FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS: Why you do not need to be silentIt is assumed that personal care products are designed not only to simplify the life of a modern woman, but also to protect them against external pollution, hinder the development of bacteria, and generally stand guard over women’s health. However, in practice this is far from the case.
- Will women waste pickers benefit from a new UN deal on plastic waste trade?The growing levels of plastic litter impacts the life of local communities by putting the biodiversity, ecosystems, fisheries, tourism and people’s health at risk, with women and children affected the most.
- Open Online Course on Gender and EnvironmentGender equality is a basic human rights and development issue as underlined in a number of international and regional human rights instruments. The course will help you better understand the global international frameworks related to gender and environment, including the link between gender, biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, international waters, and chemicals and waste.
- Plastic and Toxic Free PeriodHEJSupport is happy to announce a new project on toxic chemicals, health, and plastic pollution. The project entitled “Plastic and Toxic Free Period” is supported by Funding for Social Change Ltd and is part of a broad initiative on plastic and toxic free disposable and reusable menstrual products involving Women’s Voices for the Earth (WVE), Women’s Environmental Network (WEN), Environmenstrual Coalition and many others.
- What conventional stores tell you about feminine hygiene products?HEJSupport published a new fact sheet based on the findings of a small survey among women in Canada. We asked them about their purchase patters when buying feminine hygiene products.
- IPEN film honors women in the network, including HEJSupport directorsHEjSupport is proud that its co-directors are among the women to be featured in the IPEN film honoring women working for a toxic free future.
- HEJSupport stands for all women and girls globally to achieve gender equality, environmental and health justiceThis International Women’s Day HEJSupport calls on people around the world to show support and commitment to the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5) to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
- Protecting the Health of Women, Children and Future GenerationsHEJSupport Co-Director Olga Speranskaya co-authored an article, in her capacity
- Fighting global plastic pollution: What difference can women make?It is important to change corporate behavior, including highlighting better alternatives for personal hygienic products. The multi-billion-dollar industry that manufactures feminine and other hygienic products, profits from the dominance of disposable products. In many countries, both in developing and developed ones, the feminine hygiene industry has successfully convinced women that their period is something which should be kept hidden and related hygienic products should be quickly disposed of.
- Together for toxic- and plastic free periodsThe challenge: Most of female sanitary products contain up to 90% plastic and toxic chemicals. The average woman will use 12,000 to 16,000 disposable feminine hygiene products in her lifetime and it can take up to 100 years or more for something like a plastic pad or applicator to break down. HEJSupport is working together with other NGOs for toxic- and plastic-free periods.
- Women and Environments International MagazineHEJSupport is happy to announce a new issue of Women