There are currently about 23.2 million immigrant women living in the United States, representing approximately 14% of the country's female population. Women born in Mexico represent 22.1%, followed by countries such as India with 5.6%, the Philippines 5.2% and China 5.1%, according to the analysis conducted by the American Immigration Council. However, these numbers may increase due to Joe Biden's immigration policies.

Immigrant women are constantly exposed to situations that put them in vulnerable positions. Lack of knowledge of the language and laws are aggravating factors in these situations, along with family isolation and lack of accompaniment. According to UN Women, in its report From evidence to action: Tackling gender-based violence against migrant women and girls, "women and girls are likely to experience a continuum of gender-based violence at all stages of migration, from bullying and verbal abuse to physical, psychological and sexual violence".

While women are always exposed to this kind of violence, refugee or immigrant women are exposed to unique situations. As stated by the Office on Women's Health (OWH), fear of being reported or of losing custody of their children are two of the main reasons that prevent victims from refusing to report their aggressors. Likewise, are:

• Feeling humiliated by their community
• Sociocultural beliefs
• Failure to perform household tasks.
• Receiving false information about her duties as a wife, which would force her to be with her husband sexually.

The US has sought to protect victims of physical, emotional, sexual, and domestic violence providing them phycological support and shelter thanks to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). This Act is in effect from October 2022, and despite its name, it oversees protecting every person regardless of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or migratory status. The same the OWH encourages violence victims to file a complaint against their aggressor whether is an American citizen or not.

The US counts with the National Domestic Violence Hotline which works 24/7 and with-it victims can ask for help in emergency situations. The same, there are many Foundations and Non-Profit Organizations in charge of providing support to immigrant women in legal, psychological, translational, emotional, and physical matters. One example is the Center Against Sexual & Family Violence (CASFV) which from 1977 has been available to families and its victims. One of its services is provide, through a group of female volunteers, assistance in transcribing and translating their life histories so they can be presented in court whenever they are in the middle of legal processes against their aggressor.

Being an immigrant woman is not easy, challenges and stereotypes are constantly laid in the way they need to walk through, and it is our duty to inform us about our rights. For that reason, we encourage you to share this article with women you know, let’s take advantage of it, and spread the word so that maybe it reaches somebody who needs it.

Following the plan for regeneration, Natura announces the expansion of the Dendê Agroforestry System (or SAF, a globally recognized cultivation system), a pioneering project in sustainable palm oil farming. This initiative, which seeks to reforest degraded areas in the northern region of the country, follows international standards established by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the Union for Ethical Trade in Biotrade Products (UEBT).

This month, SAF Dendê received a boost with the signing of a cooperation agreement with the Secretariat of Family Agriculture of the State of Pará (SEAF), marking a strategic commitment to the development of public policies that adopt regenerative practices.

The project, which began 15 years ago with 18 hectares, aims to reach 40,000 hectares by 2035 to increase production and ensure a sustainable supply for Natura. The company is investing in relationships with farmers of different scales and in specific strategies for each sector.

The startup Belterra Agroforests is the partnership in charge of promoting support to families in generating income and to develop sustainable ways to produce the fundamental crops in the SAF.

Other Natura’s public ambitions involve their commitment of raising to 30% key ingredients coming from communities and small farmers, with focus in regeneration, verified and certified by an independent third party.

Moreover, the brand also is committed to guaranteeing that all suppliers, constituted by communities and small farmers, adopt ethical provisioning and regenerative practices in 100% of their operations. 

The result of technical cooperation between Natura, the Empresa Brasileña de Investigación Agropecuaria (by its acronym in Spanish, EMBRAPA), the Cooperativa Agrícola Mixta de Tomé-Açu (by its acronym in Spanish, Camta) was a project that revealed that palm farming in agroforestry systems is more productive and sustainable than in traditional monoculture. 

Cooperation is still key to generating big-impact projects, and environmental and social regeneration.

In the midst of a world facing increasingly urgent economic and environmental challenges, a crucial debate is emerging: are we on the road to a degrowth of economy or a degrowth in economy?

The other day, listening to an interview with Fernando Valladares, biologist and CSIC research professor, his concept of degrowth awakened deep reflections on the direction we should take as a society today and made me question what I do every day in favor of this change.

Instead of associating degrowth with impoverishment, Valladares presents it as an imperative need that requires careful planning and a re-evaluation of our social values.

Planning and managing the process of degrowth in advance and proactively is important. Instead of facing an unforeseen recession, degrowth offers us the opportunity to manage change in a measured and controlled manner. This involves setting clear objectives and strategies to mitigate negative impacts on vulnerable sectors.

Recently, exciting news has shaken the sustainability world in the European Union: the introduction of new regulations that redefine how product sustainability is communicated. This regulation, known as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation detailed in the EU official website, states that any company whishing to communicate sustainability aspects or features of its products must support this information with verifiable evidence or certifications by third parties. In other words, if a brand claims that its product is sustainable, organic, biodegradable, eco-friendly, among others, it must have studies, certifications or justifications that support these claims.

This measure represents a major step forward in the fight against greenwashing, a dishonest practice in which some brands exaggerate or distort the sustainable features of their products for commercial purposes. The new regulations will force companies to be more transparent and responsible in their communications, which will benefit consumers by providing them more truthful information when making decisions, and, certainly, the environment.

How should brands react to this new regulation?

In order to enter the European market or to be prepared for future similar regulations in Latin America, which -trust me! are coming, brands must follow some key guidelines.

Firstly, they must implement an impact measurement strategy, as we have discussed in previous articles, this is necessary to have clear indicators on all the sustainable attributes of their products. Secondly, they must have a traceable and certified supply chain, which will provide greater knowledge and transparency in decision making. Thirdly, seeking to invest in certifications, I think it is an important point that is being left aside due to the high levels of investments it usually requires, but it becomes necessary for the subsistence of the brand if it wants to be sustainable. And finally, it is essential that brands do not communicate just for communicating, but rather do so in an honest and connected way with the true nature of their products, ensuring that all information is truthful and verifiable.

In summary, the new EU regulation marks a milestone on the path towards a more sustainable and transparent economy. Brands that adopt these practices will not only comply with regulations, but will also gain the trust and loyalty of consumers looking for truly sustainable products.