Grapes of Change: Tackling Violence in Wine Supply Chains

ongoing

The project 'Grapes of Change: Tackling Violence in Wine Supply Chains' aims to address the persistent gender-based violence and discrimination prevalent in the European wine industry, a sector crucial to the EU's overall economic stature. Despite its importance, the sector grapples with sexual harassment, unequal pay and under-representation in management roles, particularly for women aged 18-34. Our dual strategy approach (Prevent and Recover) focuses on eradicating violence and promoting gender equality through awareness-raising initiatives, policy implementation and training in 8 EU countries. The strength of the project is in the transnational and inter-institutional efforts, as women's representative and advocacy associations in the wine sector work together with business associations. This makes the partnership able to implement strategies to raise awareness of gender-based violence that affect both the woman and the workplace. By fostering an inclusive culture and challenging deep-seated stereotypes, the project aims to improve safety and equality in the workplace. Key activities include setting up the observatory for data collection and monitoring, developing policies against gender-based bias, and running targeted training programmes for all stakeholders. In addition, the project will engage with local authorities and businesses to support and implement gender equity measures, thus facilitating a favourable environment for female talent and contributing to structural changes in the sector. The project received a strong backing from 30 entities among public administration organizations, women's advocacy groups, employer representative bodies, schools, and research organizations through Letters of Support. The impact of this initiative will not only safeguard women within the wine sector, but also attract new talent, thus revitalising the industry and promoting economic equality.