In a move that can increase pressure on companies sourcing from the Chinese region, Uyghur rights activists are suing the UK Government over its failure to investigate imports of cotton products made using forced labour from Xinjiang.
The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) has filed the case in London’s High Court and its hearing has begun. Lawyers for the claimants argued there was already overwhelming evidence that Xinjiang prison-processed cotton was present in UK supply chains.
As per media reports, it is the first of a wave of lawsuits across Europe aimed at blocking imports from Xinjiang, taking advantage of recently tightened laws on companies’ supply chain liability.
It is worth mentioning here that the US implemented a ban on imports from Xinjiang this year, while the UN said in September that China’s abuses against more than one million detained Uyghurs and other Muslims in the region “may constitute . . . crimes against humanity”.
Beijing has refuted these claims saying its policy at Xinjiang is aimed at countering terrorism and boosting economic development.
Dearbhla Minogue, a lawyer from the Global Legal Action Network involved in preparing the case, said “many UK companies know or suspect they are importing forced-labour cotton”.
She added that the hearing would have “given them cause to reconsider the risks involved, which could include. . . criminal prosecution, fines and even prison for company officials”.
Dolkun Isam, President, WUC said that the hearing “could set an important precedent for other countries” and vowed to continue “challenging countries and companies invested in Xinjiang”.
The WUC, together with a broader coalition of charities and law firms, has filed a similar case against the Irish government. It plans to launch further cases across Europe after the passage of an EU directive on corporate due diligence, which has proposed a ban on goods made using forced labour.
