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Weekly Brief, 01 January 2021

Weekly Brief, 01 January 2021

NEWS

China Uses Tourism to Smother Uyghur Culture
On December 31st, the Economist published an article in which it highlighted how Chinese authorities are not only attacking Uyghur culture by destroying mosques and other places of cultural and religious significance, but also through mass Han-Chinese tourism. The article shows how the outlook of many Uyghur sites of cultural heritage – and their “official” meanings – are altered to accommodate Han tourists. In this way, the powers these places hold as sites are changed forever for Uyghurs.  

EU and China Reach Agreement on Trade and Investment Deal
The European Union (EU) and China on Wednesday agreed on the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI), a trade and investment deal that the two parties had been negotiating since 2013. The Guardian reported that the investment talks centred on opening up Chinese markets for European investment, as well as addressing Chinese practices opposed by the EU concerning industrial subsidies, state control of enterprises and forced technology transfers. In response to widespread concerns over forced labour in China, the Chinese leadership pledged to “make continued and sustained efforts” to ratify international conventions on banning forced labor. As China’s poor record clearly shows, such promises are void, and the WUC will continue to urge the EU to include enforceable human rights clauses or enforcement mechanisms to ensure China upholds this promise.

WUC Urges Turkey to Refrain from Signing Extradition Treaty with China
On December 29, the WUC published a press release in which it called upon Turkish lawmakers not to ratify an extradition treaty with China, over concerns that the treaty would likely become another instrument of persecution for China, aiding the Chinese government in its coordinated efforts to forcibly return Uyghurs living abroad. “Turkey is considered to be a second home for Uyghurs, who have taken refuge in this country that has cultural and linguistic ties with the Uyghur people”, WUC President Dolkun Isa said. “Given the genocide that is unfolding in East Turkistan, the Turkish government has a responsibility to protect all Uyghurs living in Turkey.”

Fair Labor Association Prohibits Sourcing and Production from East Turkistan over Forced Labour
On the 23rd of December, the Fair Labor Association (FLA) announced that it is prohibiting sourcing and production (including direct and indirect sourcing of raw materials, inputs, or finished products) from East Turkistan. This is the first time in its history that it bans a specific country or region from sourcing. The FLA made this unprecedented decision as the situation in East Turkistan “presents unique human rights and labor violations that defy conventional due diligence norms.” FLA affiliates include Nike, Patagonia, Adidas and more than 100 other companies. 

WUC and Others Send Open Letter to Volkswagen’s Chief Executive in China
On December 28th, WUC UK Director, Rahima Mahmut, together with other civil society representatives of the Stop Uyghur Genocide Campaign, sent an open letter to Stephan Wollenstein, Chief Executive of Volkswagen in China, highlighting the moral obligation of Volkswagen not to profit from Uyghur forced labour, which mounting evidence has shown to be pervasive in the Uyghur region. “[…] why wouldn’t you now want to absolutely ensure your ethical integrity, and avoid any chance that a customer should drive a car made with slave labor? Close your factory in the Uighur region and re-site it outside China!”, the letter said.

 

PARTICIPATE

Tell Zara: Stop Profiting From Uyghur Forced Labour
Spanish-based retailer Zara, among many giant corporations companies, claims to prohibit forced labour in its supply chains, yet offers no credible explanation as to how it can do this considering their links to East Turkistan where all goods are likely to be tainted by forced labour. By continuing to operate in and maintaining links to the region, fashion brands like these are complicit in what many have widely recognized as crimes against humanity. Please sign the petition here!

Supporters in the UK, Write your MP to Write to Demand no Trade Deals with Genocidal States
Governments should not sign trade deals with regimes that are committing genocide. To ensure the U.K. places human rights above trade, the Genocide Amendment is essential. The amendment also enables to U.K. courts to judge that the crime of genocide has happened. Find out how you can write your MP here!