The Cotton Campaign, which is a coalition of labour rights NGOs, independent trade unions, brand and retail associations, has called for Uzbekistan’s government and cotton sector to publicly affirm its commitment to allowing independent monitoring and reporting on labour rights in the cotton sector after the incident.
It claimed the attack on Founder and Director of Uzbek Forum for Human Rights Umida Niyazova and a journalist occurred at the same time as escalating intimidation and pressure was being placed on independent labour monitors, which stand to negatively impact the government and industry’s efforts to attract sourcing by global brands.
The Cotton Campaign said the duo cut their trip short after being intimidated, insulted and accused of organising information attacks against Uzbekistan.
The Uzbekistan Textile Association (Uztextileprom) told: “Over recent years, Uzbekistan has made significant strides in combating forced labour and addressing human rights abuses within the cotton industry. As an association of textile manufacturers, our members are dedicated to continuously improving conditions and are committed to fostering a fair, open, and transparent market.
“As we open our doors to international scrutiny, we assert that there is absolutely no place for violence or intimidation. Whilst we cannot comment on specific instances, we strongly urge local authorities to investigate any allegations of illegality and intimidation thoroughly.”
