"European Parliament May Rubber Stamp Forced Labor in Uzbekistan", 11 Dec 2016

Cotton picking by forced labor in Uzbekistan © Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights

...On Monday, the Parliament will vote on whether to lift a hold on a Textile Protocol with Uzbekistan, which it had blocked in 2011 over concerns about the government’s systematic use of forced labor. If adopted, the deal would lower tariffs on Uzbek cotton, allowing it to reach European markets more easily.The economic impact of such a deal is fairly marginal...But approving the Protocol could undermine efforts to end forced labor, led by Uzbek activists, alongside their allies in the trade union and human rights movements, and even the apparel industry...Recently, observers obtained – for the first time – a document from an official that confirms the Uzbek government is organizing the forced labor...Adopting this Protocol now sends the wrong message to Tashkent. At the very least, before the European Parliament takes up its vote, it should closely examine the abuses of the latest cotton harvest, including the new damning evidence emerging about the government’s hand in orchestrating it...