UHRP Urges Robust Enforcement of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act

June 21, 2022 | 10:00 a.m. EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact: Omer Kanat +1 (202) 819-0598, Peter Irwin +1 (646) 906-7722

The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) urges the US government to effectively implement the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) as it comes into effect today, and governments to pass similar legislation to stop forced labor goods from entering the global market.

“The fact that it is now clearly illegal for companies to import goods made with Uyghur forced labor into the United States is a huge win for our movement to end atrocities in East Turkistan,” said Omer Kanat, UHRP Executive Director.

The historic legislation was signed into law in December 2021—a process that took legislators nearly two years amidst lobbying from companies like Coca-Cola and Nike, who attempted to weaken the final product. The law bans all companies from importing goods tainted with Uyghur forced labor into the United States.

As the law comes into effect, UHRP calls governments to introduce similar legislation to prevent the import of these products into their markets, and for global companies to finally eliminate Uyghur forced labor from their supply chains.

UHRP and fellow members of the Coalition to End Forced Labor in the Uyghur Region continue to call on companies worldwide to end business ties to the Uyghur Region, and ensure they are not sourcing products from workplaces across China where Uyghurs are subject to forced labor and atrocity crimes.

The Coalition was launched in June 2020 calling for an end to the use of Uyghur forced labor, and the UFLPA represents a significant success for our campaign, effectively codifying the demands of the Coalition into law.

Coalition Calls for Government Action to End Corporate Complicity in Forced Labour in Uyghur Region of China, May 10, 2022

UHRP Celebrates Historic Uyghur Bill Signed into Law, December 23, 2021

UHRP Hails Passage of Uyghur Forced Labor Bill, Urges President’s Signature, Dec 16, 2021

UHRP Welcomes 428-1 Vote on Uyghur Forced Labor in House of Representatives, Dec 8, 2021

Explosive Report Exposes Uyghur Forced Labour Connections in Global Retail Brands’ Supply Chains, Nov 17, 2021

UHRP Calls for U.S. Investigation of Universal Electronics Products Made with Uyghur Forced Labor, Oct 8, 2021

UHRP Applauds US Action to Address Uyghur Forced Labor in China’s Solar Industry, Jun 25, 2021

60 groups urge passage of Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, May 27, 2021

UHRP welcomes tomato and cotton bans to end complicity with Uyghur forced labor, calls on the ILO to break silence, Jan 13, 2021

UHRP hails action to end import of cotton products from Chinese paramilitary conglomerate in the Uyghur Region, Dec 2, 2020

Uyghurs hail action by U.S. Congress on China’s forced labor, worst since WWII, Sep 22, 2020

70 Uyghur groups ask for urgent action on Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, Sep 9, 2020