All Reading
This section contains a curated list of useful articles, investigations, books and other reading materials. The list is updated on a weekly basis and suggestions for additions are welcome.
Starting Points:
Uyghur activists welcome Biden’s call to limit ‘de minimis’ exemption
Critics call the law a ‘loophole’ that allows goods made with slavery to be sold to Americans.
Uyghur group wins appeal to probe alleged Uyghur slave labor
Reversing a previous ruling, an appeals court in the UK ordered that the country’s National Crime Agency reconsider whether to investigate if cotton imports from Xinjiang allegedly use Uyghur slave labor.
NCA failure to investigate imports linked to forced Uyghur labour unlawful, court rules
The National Crime Agency’s decision not to launch an investigation into the importation of cotton products manufactured by forced labour in Xinjiang was unlawful, the court of appeal has found.
Uyghur Policy Act passes US House
The legislation would require the State Department to offer Uyghur language classes to diplomats, and place Uyghur speakers in all consulates in China.
UK solar could be ‘dumping ground’ for products of Chinese forced labour, ministers warned
An amendment to the energy bill, proposed with cross-party support, would require solar energy companies to prove that their supply chains are free of slave labour.
What’s Next for the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act?
This article analyzes the impact of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act a year since it was signed into law, and next steps for strengthening US sanctions against goods linked to forced labour in Xinjiang.
Nearly $500 million in US imports blocked due to Uyghur forced labor
The acting head of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol said it has already blocked nearly $500 million worth of imports this year because it was made “wholly or in part” by Uyghur forced labor.
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Statistics
This portal provides statistics on shipments subjected to reviews or enforcement actions under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which prohibits the import of any goods sourced or produced wholly or in part in Xinjiang.
UK High Court judge finds ‘striking consensus’ of abuses in Xinjiang
The High Court in London has said there is a “striking consensus” of “clear and widespread abuses” in Xinjiang’s cotton industry, despite refusing a legal challenge from Uyghur rights activists.
Uyghur rights group fails in legal challenge against UK government
A Uyghur rights group’s legal challenge against the British government for not investigating the import of cotton produced in Xinjiang was dismissed by a London court on Friday.
Event: Forced Labor Initiatives in the US and EU
Join for a webinar where Steptoe lawyers from the US and EU will be discussing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), the recently-issued EU proposal for a forced labor instrument, and their potential impacts.
Event: The Uyghur Genocide & Threats to Religious Liberty: A Conversation with Commissioner Nury Turkel
Featuring Commissioner Nury Turkel, a human rights advocate for Uyghur people, this event features discussion on Turkel’s advocacy efforts, and what the international community can do to safeguard religious liberty in China.
The Procurement Bill is a chance for the UK to put its money where its mouth is on human rights
Part of the Procurement Bill legislation would allow for the discretionary exclusion of companies implicated in human rights abuses, including those used by the Chinese state to oppress minorities.
Designer Louise Xin's mission to fight forced labor with fashion
Amongst Chinese-Swedish couture designer Louise Xin’s fashion debut were signs sharing the designer’s commitment to human rights including a banner unfurled at the end of the catwalk declaring, “Free Uyghur: End All Genocide.”
Event: Uyghur Action Day
Join activists, MPs, and other experts in this special event focused on Canadian government action on the Uyghur genocide, crimes against humanity, forced labour, and advancing legislation included motion M-62 on Uyghur refugee resettlement.
Full Uyghur Tribunal Judgment Published
The Uyghur Tribunal has released its full Judgment - some 347 pages - setting out its comprehensive findings of genocide in Xinjiang against Uyghur Muslims, now complete with appendices.
Event: Voices for Chinese Government Accountability
At the 51st session of the Human Rights Council, representatives from the Uyghur, Tibetan, and Hong communities join voices to call on governments worldwide to take meaningful action to promote accountability and justice for victims.
EU Forced Labour Proposal Falls Short on Uyghur Forced Labour
The European Parliament and Council should introduce amendments to strengthen the European Commission’s proposal to enact a ban on goods made with forced labour, the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region said today.
Opinion | There’s never a convenient time to try to stop a genocide
The damning findings of U.N High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet are shocking — but they should come as no surprise, considering the world has known about these abuses for years. So why isn’t the U.S. government doing more to stop them?
China’s Uyghur abuses ‘may constitute crimes against humanity,’ UN finds
In a blistering report, the U.N.'s outgoing human rights chief confirmed that China has committed "serious human rights violations" against the Uyghur Muslim community, adding that such acts are potentially crimes against humanity.