The University of Durham becomes the fifth founding member of Electronics Watch, joining other European public sector buyers to push for better conditions for workers in the supply chains of the brands they have contracts with, and gain independent worker-led monitoring of the factories they use.

On Sunday 23 and Monday 24 November Electronics Watch held a workshop in Hong Kong with the objective of discussing the Electronics Watch Monitoring & Improvement and Reform Programmes. The workshop consisted of over 30 participants from civil society organisations, trade unions, labour rights groups and improvement initiatives from Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Thailand, and the US.

Electronics Watch is happy to welcome the University of Leeds another founding member from the UK. This victory is a result of a national student-led Sweatshop Free campaign supported by People & Planet, the UK's largest student campaigning network. The campaign is gathering huge momentum in Britain, with many more affiliations expected over the coming months.

An online petition "No more deaths in electronics sweatshops" has just been released on the Avaaz website. It aims to raise awareness and collect thousands of signatures in a call to local and national governments, and public sector organisations, to affiliate to Electronics Watch: a new independent organisation working to monitor working conditions in the electronics industry.

A new investigative report, which includes field research in South Korea, points out at severe violations of labour rights in the electronics industry, particularly regarding health and safety issues, and freedom of association restrictions.

The edition of EcoProcura 2014 took place in Ghent, Belgium on 24-26 September organised by ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) and the City of Ghent. Procurers from different levels, policy-makers, suppliers and representatives from several organisations and initiatives gathered in Ghent to discuss and promote a number of topics related to sustainable public procurement. The event had over 350 participants, including representatives from Electronics Watch.

Coinciding with the World Day for Decent Work, a new report published by the Electronics Watch Consortium has been released. The new report examines the complex production system of the ICT sector, maps extensively its key stakeholders and producer countries, and analyses the leverage of public buyers to change the abusive labour conditions in the industry.

Electronics Watch is glad to present Björn Skorpen Claeson as its new Affiliations and Fundraising Coordinator, who will work from his base in Sweden for Electronics Watch. He brings years of experience and expertise in protecting workers rights’ around the world through socially responsible public procurement initiatives.

Electronics Watch is now recruiting dedicated Trustees to lead and guide this exciting new organisation through its first years. Nine Trustees will be selected in total. Within the composition of the Board, we are looking to achieve a diverse and vibrant mix of age, gender, ethnic and cultural background, as well as professional experience and expertise within areas of relevance to Electronics Watch.

Electronics Watch is delighted to have its first founding members - Edinburgh University, Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges and London Universities Purchasing Consortium. With these three important public bodies joining within weeks of each other, and with others across Europe currently competing to be one of the Founding Members, the campaign looks unstoppable.