Categories: Human rights

Human Rights groups call on US authorities to ban all imports of cotton from China’s Xinjiang province

WhatsAppWhatsAppFacebookFacebookTwitterTwitterPinterestPinterestRedditRedditGmailGmailShareShare

Due to the growing allegations of widespread forced labor in Chinese Xinjiang province, the Human rights campaigners have called upon US authorities to ban all cotton imports from China, The Guardian reported. 

As per The Guardian, many largest fashion brands and retailers require cotton due to which millions of Uighur people are facing human rights violations in the Chinese Xinjiang region due to forced labor, says 180 human rights coalition groups.

Global outrage is escalating over the atrocities done upon the Uighur people in the province, including exceeding working hours, and abuses.

China is among the top three cotton producers in the world, with 84% of its cotton originating from Xinjiang, situated in the north-west of the nation. The Human Rights campaigners state that the forced labor system across the region on the religious and ethnic minorities is going on since World War II.

On 31 Aug, the US Custom and Border Protection in a petition cited that there is substantial evidence about the Uighur minorities were forced to work in cotton fields.

Many fashion brands across the world buy cotton from Xinjiang that five cotton merchandises sold globally are tainted with forced labor, and human rights violations are happening there. 

As per Rahima Mahmut, a representative for the World Uighur Congress, one of the campaign groups initiating the petitions, is hoping that the economic repercussions of the ban could make Beijing review its prison labor system.

Many brands depend on buying cotton from this region, says Dearbhla Minogue, a judicial officer for the Global Legal Action Network (Glan) stated in The Guardian.

In April, Glan submitted a 57-page appeal to HM Revenue and Customs in the UK demanding a similar ban. The petition, submitted under an 1897 law banning the import of merchandise made in foreign penitentiaries, remains in consideration, added Minogue. 

On 31 Aug, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi stated in support of detention camps in Xinjiang and Hong Kong’s new security law. He rejected human rights issues raised by European nations and warned against intervention in Chinese affairs.

Article Credit: The Guardian/ United Nations

About Grace Young

Step into the realm of workers' rights with Grace Young as your guide. Grace's storytelling prowess illuminates the human side of labor issues, offering narratives that inspire empathy and understanding.

Grace Young

Step into the realm of workers' rights with Grace Young as your guide. Grace's storytelling prowess illuminates the human side of labor issues, offering narratives that inspire empathy and understanding.

Recent Posts

USAID Workers Face Trouble After Speaking to the Press & Reason Behind It

At least six employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been put under formal investigation for speaking…

May 10, 2025

Prince Harry Faces Backlash as His Charity Admits Human Rights Abuse

Prince Harry's links to African charitable groups have come under considerable scrutiny after revelations of human rights abuses and internal…

May 10, 2025

Canada Jobless Rate Rises to 6.9 Percent in April Amid Tariff Impact

April's unemployment rate in Canada reached 6.9%, the highest in the subsequent period since November 2024. Statistics Canada's data demonstrates…

May 10, 2025

Big Relief for Indian Workers in the UK: No More Double Salary Deductions!

In a major development, India and the United Kingdom have signed a new agreement providing solutions for Indian workers temporarily…

May 10, 2025

Trump Urges Supreme Court to End Humanitarian Parole for 500,000 Immigrants

Former President Donald Trump is taking legal action to strike down one of the topics on the forgotten list of…

May 9, 2025

Walmart Sends More Orders to India, But Factories Struggle with Worker Crunch

As U.S. retailers like Walmart and Costco pursue alternatives to Chinese and Bangladeshi suppliers due to rising tariffs, India's garment…

May 9, 2025