UN human rights rapporteurs confirmed, on Wednesday, that “there are reports regarding allegations of the involvement of 150 Chinese and foreign companies in serious violations against workers from the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang.”
This came in a joint statement issued by 10 UN rapporteurs on human rights and minorities.
The statement stated that “Uyghurs are exposed to exploitative acts and abusive living conditions that may amount to arbitrary detention, human trafficking, forced labor and slavery.”
It added, “Hundreds of thousands of Uyghur members are being held in facilities prepared (for re-education).”
“Many of them have been forcibly transferred to work in factories in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, and in other Chinese provinces,” he said.
The UN rapporteurs expressed “grave concern about these allegations, which, if proven, would constitute gross violations of human rights.”
They added, “We have reports about the involvement of more than 150 Chinese and foreign companies in committing serious human rights violations against Uyghur workers.”
“Many of these companies operate as part of the supply chains of many well-known global brands,” they explained.
“The experts have already written to the Chinese government and to private companies in and outside Beijing, which may be involved in the alleged violations,” the statement said.
The UN rapporteurs said, “We are ready to enhance our dialogue with the Chinese government at the earliest opportunity, and we welcome the government’s prompt response to these allegations.”
According to official UN reports, China is detaining about one million Uighur Muslims in secret camps in Xinjiang, however Beijing denies this.
