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:
China probes Calvin Klein over Xinjiang cotton
The move marks a new effort by Beijing to fight back against allegations from western officials and human rights activists that goods in the region have been produced using forced labour from the Uyghur ethnic group.
Leaked audit of VW’s Xinjiang plant contains flaws: expert
Volkswagen’s audit of its joint venture plant in Xinjiang — where human rights groups accuse it of using Uyghur forced labor — contains flaws that make it unreliable, said an expert who obtained a copy of the audit.
An Assessment of the Audit of Volkswagen’s Controversial Factory in Xinjiang
This is an analysis of an independent but non-public report requested by Volkswagen following criticism over its continued presence in Xinjiang, a region witnessing mass arbitrary detention and mass forced labor.
Activists slam Euro 2024 for Chinese sponsors’ links to Uyghur forced labor
Human rights activists have criticized organizers of the 2024 UEFA European soccer tournament for forging sponsorship contracts with Chinese companies whose supply chains have been found to use Uyghur forced labor.
Human rights group urges UK financial regulator to block Shein’s LSE flotation
Amnesty International UK said Shein’s potential London listing would be a “badge of shame” for the London market because of the fast-fashion firm’s “questionable” labour and human rights standards.
SHEIN flotation would be 'badge of shame' for London Stock Exchange
Reacting to the prospective flotation, an Amnesty International Researcher specialising in the garment industry called it “deeply troubling [for a] company with questionable labour and human rights standards.”
BMW China parts probe expanded by US Senate panel
The head of the US Senate Finance Committee has expanded an investigation of BMW after the car maker was found to have imported vehicles to America that contained banned Chinese parts.
Asleep at the Wheel - Car Companies’ Complicity in Forced Labour in China
In this report, Human Rights Watch outlines how global carmakers are failing to minimize the risk of Uyghur forced labor being used in their aluminum supply chains.
Volkswagen under fire after audit finds no evidence of Uyghur forced labor
Experts on the region cast doubt on the results, saying official documents show Uyghur detainees from re-education camps were funneled to the factory.
Tailoring Responsibility: Tracing Apparel Supply Chains from the Uyghur Region to Europe
This report provides critical insight into how forced labour-made apparel is moving from the Uyghur Region into high-street and high-end brands operating and selling within the EU.
‘Substantial volume’ of clothing tied to Uyghur forced labour entering EU, says study
The report identifies dozens of well-known brands as having “significant ties” to Xinjiang, via Chinese companies involved in forced labour transfer programmes.
German company’s Xinjiang partner linked to Chinese forced labor
A German newspaper report into ties between China’s state-sponsored Uyghur labor transfer program and a regional partner of chemical giant BASF prompted criticism that the company is ignoring the possibility of forced labor.
Stop tourism of Xinjiang, Uyghur advocacy group says
Western travel agencies must stop offering tours of Xinjiang because they are implicitly supporting Beijing’s repression of the mostly Muslim Uyghurs who live there, a new report by a Uyghur advocacy group says.
Genocide Tours: International Travel Companies in East Turkistan
This new report highlights the troubling industry of organized travel to the Uyghur region, with companies continuing to offer tours despite ongoing crimes against humanity and genocide.
Tesla, Mercedes, and GM being probed by US Senate on whether they use forced Uyghur labor
The US Senate Finance Committee is looking into whether major car makers are sourcing parts and metals linked to forced Uyghur labor.
TikTok executive refuses requests to acknowledge China’s treatment of Uyghurs
In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, a TikTok executive refused multiple times to acknowledge China’s treatment of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities, which the US State Department has labeled a genocide.
Driving Force - Automotive Supply Chains and Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region
This report is the result of a six-month investigation analysing publicly available documents, which revealed massive and expanding links between western car brands and Uyghur abuses.
Passively Funding Crimes Against Humanity
This report by Hong Kong Watch explores how many firms on three major global index funds actively use Uyghur forced labor or source from suppliers that do.
Chinese security firm advertises ethnicity recognition technology while facing UK ban
A Chinese security camera company has been advertising ethnicity recognition features to British and other European customers, despite allegations of involvement in ethnic cleansing in Xinjiang.
Major funds exposed to companies allegedly engaged in Uyghur repression in China
A new report finds stock indexes provided by MSCI include companies using forced labour or constructing surveillance state in Xinjiang, the Guardian reports.