Electronics Watch is delighted to introduce two new members of staff. Kate Sullivan began her role as Affiliate Engagement Manager in March. Rocío Paniagua came on board as Low Emission Vehicle Programme Manager in May.

We are delighted to bring to you the public version of our three-year Strategic Plan: 2021-2023, which is already well on its way. We hope that you will be inspired by and join us in our plan to harness the power of public procurement to defend the rights of workers in electronics supply chains. We are grateful to the more than 40 advisors including public buyers, human rights experts, and labour rights monitoring partners who contributed their time and insight to this strategic plan.

Our educational series on human rights and environmental due diligence in public procurement is drawing large audiences from civil society, trade unions, policy makers, public administrations, and companies. 550 people signed up for the first three sessions where we addressed transparency, verification, and enforcement of effective due diligence. The series takes place in the context of pathbreaking new laws and proposals on due diligence, including the European Commission proposal for a directive on corporate sustainability due diligence.

The Municipalities of Copenhagen and Oslo have respectively become the first Danish and Norwegian affiliates of Electronics Watch. They join other Scandinavian affiliates Adda Central Purchasing Body and the Swedish Regions. "Copenhagen and Oslo are leaders in sustainable public procurement. We are thrilled to be joining forces to address core issues in electronics supply chains", said Björn Claeson, Director of Electronics Watch.

On 14 March, the Global Electronics Council (GEC) released its draft report State of Sustainability Research for Corporate ESG Performance. The report, prepared by Electronics Watch, supports the upcoming review of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) criteria.

Participants from 30 different countries took part in the four day Freedom of Association summit organised by Electronics Watch in December 2021, with support from Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges, Scotland. More details and the recordings from each session can be accessed here.

Electronics Watch has developed a new forced labour risk chart that allows public buyers to quickly understand the risk composition of the electronics they buy. The chart focuses on assembly and component levels, and the country of origin. This is done by combining analysis of specific regional conditions and supply chain characteristics. The Australian Government will be among the first to use this tool to better understand and respond strategically to modern slavery risks in its ICT supply chains.

We're delighted to start 2022 announcing four new affiliations to Electronics Watch, in Australia, the Netherlands, Norway and the UK.

Electronics Watch has joined the Clean Electronics Production Network (CEPN). CEPN is a multi-stakeholder innovation network, with the goal to "move toward zero exposure of workers to toxic chemicals in the electronics manufacturing process." As a member of CEPN, Electronics Watch will help our affiliates work effectively to remove toxic chemicals from their electronics supply chains.

Today, just six days before the start of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP 26, Electronics Watch releases two films focusing on the mining of nickel, a key mineral for batteries in electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure. Produced in collaboration with Pacific Asia Resource Center and Friends of the Earth, Japan, with support from Bread for All, A Cry from Palawan - The Environmental and Social Cost of Energy Transition and What is at Stake Behind the Energy Transition? - The Real Cost of Nickel Mining in the Philippines vividly demonstrate the need for a Just Transition to achieve the climate goals.