Take action now against forced labour in Uzbekistan

It’s October and the cotton harvest season in Uzbekistan is in full swing, and so too is forced labour out in the cotton fields. Disturbing reports from across Uzbekistan detail labour rights abuses in the harvest, with thousands of college students, school children, parents and teachers and other public employees forced to handpick the cotton at the behest of the Government, who makes a small fortune from the sale of the cotton. This year the authorities in Uzbekistan have made no exceptions, they are allegedly even coercing pregnant young women and sick children to undertake arduous physical labour in order to bring home the country’s ‘White Gold’. The Uzbekistan government has consistently denied allegations of child labour in the cotton harvest and EJF is saying ‘enough is enough’. Over 60 of the world’s most prominent clothing retailers have pledged to avoid Uzbek cotton - please add your voice to this international campaign to stop illegal labour practices in Uzbekistan’s cotton production. Write to Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, to voice your concern and to help end abuses and secure a brighter future for Uzbek children and their families.

 

To: His Excellency Otabek Akbarov, The Uzbekistan Ambassador
Embassy of Uzbekistan in the United Kingdom 41 Holland Park London W11 3RP

Cc: His Excellency Bakhtiyar Gulyamov, The Uzbekistan Ambassador
Uzbekistan Embassy in Belgium, Mission to the EU and NATO, Avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt 99 B-1050, Brussels, Belgium

Cc : His Excellency Ilhom Nematov, The Uzbekistan Ambassador
Embassy of Uzbekistan in the United States 1746 Massachusetts Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-1903

Dear Ambassador,

Subject: Reports of forced child labour during the 2011 cotton harvest in Uzbekistan

I am writing to express my profound dismay at the use of forced child and adult labour in Uzbekistan’s cotton harvest. I understand from recent independent reports from within Uzbekistan that hundreds of thousands of students and children as young as 12 are being sent to pick cotton under deplorable conditions without adequate food, water or protective clothing, for little or no pay. I am disgusted to read that this year there are reports that sick children and pregnant young women, and public employees including medical personnel are also coerced into the cotton harvest.

As an individual concerned with the welfare of children and their basic human rights, I urge you to use your influence within your Government to call for swift and decisive action to end forced child labour in the Uzbek cotton harvest forever.

The Uzbek Government’s signing of ILO Convention 182 on the worst forms of child labour in 2008 was a welcome development and I urge that active steps are now being taken to ensure that the production of cotton does not involve labour rights violations, and can bring sustainable benefits to your country’s people.

As you are no doubt aware, over 60 major clothing retailers have pledged to avoid Uzbek cotton in their supply chains, until such time when forced labour is eradicated, and as a concerned consumer, I welcome their action and I too am adding my voice to the campaign.

I am confident that you will treat this matter seriously and ensure that your Government gives this matter the highest level of priority. I believe that Uzbekistan can be a country with a bright economic future as a well as a country that respects and provides for its children’s basic human rights.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this issue.

Yours sincerely

<Your name will go here>

 
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Child labour and forced labour in Uzbekistan is a serious matter, be firm but always remember to be polite in your message. This letter will also be sent to the Uzbek Ambassador to Belgium, the EU and NATO as well as the Uzbek Ambassador to the United States.