Cotton Campaign
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      • Uzbek Forum Key Findings 2020
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      • A Changing Landscape in Uzbek Cotton Production
      • Bennett Freeman Remarks at ILO Roundtable
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Press releases

A Changing Landscape in Uzbek Cotton Production
January 27, 2021

Bennett Freeman Remarks at ILO Roundtable
​January 27, 2021

Brands Need Assurances on Forced Labor and Civil Society in Uzbekistan
April 16, 2020

Uzbekistan: Efforts Underway to End Forced Labor; Cotton Campaign and Uzbek Government Deepen Dialogue, Urgent Work Remains
November 1, 2019

Uzbekistan: Amidst reform effort, journalists and activists face criminal charges, arbitrary detention, forced psychiatric treatment
October 16, 2019

​Gaspar Matalaev Free after Three Years of Unjust Imprisonment
September 9, 2019
​
A Roadmap of Reforms to End State-Sponsored Forced Labor in Uzbekistan 

​June 26, 2019

Turkmenistan Remains at Lowest Possible Ranking in US Trafficking in Persons Report
​June 21, 2019

Civil Society, Global Brands, and Responsible Investors Demand Change in Turkmenistan 
​May 23, 2019

UGF Report: Despite Progress, Systemic Forced Labor Persists in Uzbekistan's 2018 Cotton Harvest
​April 4, 2019

Cotton Campaign Meets with Senior Uzbek Officials in Washington - Parties Agree to Intensify Dialogue on Ending Forced Labor
​February 15, 2019

Despite Commitment and Efforts, Systematic Forced Labor in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Fields was Present During the 2018 Harvest.
​December 13, 2018

Protest at United Nations Calls on Turkmenistan to End Forced Labor in Cotton Industry.
84,000 Demand Freedom for Journalist Gaspar Matalaev.
October 1, 2018

Join Us in New York on October 1st to Protest Forced Labor in Turkmenistan.
Bring attention to both the continued forced labor practices and the arbitrary detainment of Gaspar Matalaev, while the Turkmen president is speaking at the United Nations General Assembly.
​September 25, 2018

Forced labor down in spring cotton work, systemic problems remain.
​Public sector workers not mobilized en masse to work in Uzbek cotton fields in Spring 2018.
September 10, 2018

Uzbekistan Should Stay on the U.S. Department of Labor Forced Child Labor List​.
​August 29, 2018

U.S. Decision Fails Forced Labor Victims in Uzbekistan. 
The Uzbek Government Needs to Close the Gap Between Words and Actions on Ending Systematic Forced Labor.
June 28, 2018

United States Maintains Strong Stand Against Forced Labor in Turkmenistan’s Cotton Production.
Turkmenistan Remains in the Lowest Possible Ranking in the Annual Trafficking in Persons Report.
June 28, 2018

Cotton Campaign presents recommendations to end forced labor to government officials in Uzbekistan.
Constructive discussions in Tashkent with a big task ahead – to end systematic forced labor in cotton production.
May 30, 2018

U.S. Customs Halts Imports of Forced Labor Cotton and Cotton Goods from Turkmenistan
May 23, 2018

Media Advisory: Cotton Campaign sends delegation to Uzbekistan
After a decade of advocacy against forced labor, Cotton Campaign to present roadmap of reforms to Uzbek government
May 4, 2018

State lifts restrictions on Uzbek human rights defender
Forced labor monitor Uktam Pardaev has terms of his probation lifted in Uzbekistan
April 11, 2018

Uzbekistan: Some workers excused from cotton fields
October 5, 2017

​Turkmen games commence amid season of forced labor
​September 19, 2017

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan remain in the lowest possible ranking in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report
​June 27, 2017

Cotton Campaign outraged at death of Uzbek labor rights activist
Global coalition demands immediate release for allied activist still imprisoned
​June 22, 2017

Three years imprisonment for documenting forced and child labor
Human rights groups condemn detention of Turkmen activist on false charges
March 23, 2017
​
​Uzbekistan: ILO Report Confirms Forced Labor But Government Role Undermined Research
​February 16, 2017

Uzbek Government Detains Independent German Journalist.
Another incident in a series of actions to repress free speech in the Central Asian country.
November 21, 2016

Letter to Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., US Under Secretary for Political Affairs re: his trip to Central Asia
In light of Under Secretary Shannon's current visit to Central Asia, Cotton Campaign urges the US government to reinforce its efforts against forced labor in Uzbekistan.
October 25, 2016

World Bank Potentially Liable for Supporting Forced Labor in Uzbekistan’s Cotton Sector
ILRF report finds World Bank in violation of international law on responsibility of international organizations for financial complicity in international crimes
(На русском языке)
September 13, 2016

​After Karimov, What's Next?
Cotton Campaign urges successors to end state-sponsored forced labor in Uzbekistan
(На русском языке)​
September 12, 2016


​Uzbekistan: Forced Labor Linked to World Bank Corporate Loan
Complaint Filed in Cotton Production Case
(Русский вариант)
​July 6, 2016

United States takes strong stand against forced labor in cotton
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan downgraded in annual anti-trafficking report
June 30, 2016

International Workers, Employers, Governments Call on Turkmenistan to End Forced Labour
(Русский вариант)
June 13, 2016
​
Human rights defender Elena Urlaeva released
Uzbek Government forcibly detained her in a hospital for more than a month
(Русский вариант)
June 3, 2016

Cotton Farmers & Workers demand freedom from forced labor
May 30, 2016

Uzbekistan Government Detains Human Rights Defender Elena Urlaeva in a Psychiatric Hospital
May 19, 2016

Asian Development Bank: Heed Local Voices
Support Participation, Accountability in Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan

May 1, 2016

U.S. Customs Called on to Halt Imports of Forced Labor-made Cotton Goods from Turkmenistan
Formal Complaint Filed Today Under the Tariff Act of 1930

April 6, 2016

Uzbek and global activists petition World Bank President to Suspend Payments
New report documents state-led forced labor in 2015 cotton harvest within World Bank project areas in Uzbekistan

March 9, 2016

Uzbekistan: End Prolonged Detention of Human Rights Defender
Uzbek government should unconditionally release Uktam Pardaev
December 18, 2015

ILO Report Reaffirms Forced Labor in Uzbekistan
World Bank should suspend agricultural loans until the Uzbek government takes real steps to end state-sponsored forced labor

December 17, 2015

Uzbekistan: Police Arrest Human Rights Monitor in Retaliation for Reporting State-led Forced Labor
November 17, 2015

Uzbekistan: Human Rights Defender’s House Burned Down as Government Silences Him with Charges
October 29, 2015

Uzbek government subjects human rights defenders to body-cavity searches
Harassment is the latest in a spate of arrests and attacks of human rights defenders

October 1, 2015

Uzbekistan: Police Arrest Uzbek Human Rights Defenders for Documenting the Cotton Harvest
September 21, 2015

Cotton Harvests Underway in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan: Top 5 Issues to Track
September 3, 2015

Korean Government Breaks with the OECD, United Nations with Assertion That Companies Have No Responsibility for Human Rights in their Supply Chains: Daewoo International approaches 20 years of knowingly buying forced labor cotton in Uzbekistan
August 3, 2015

Human Trafficking: U.S. Decisions Fails Forced Labor Victims: Uzbekistan placement supports state-sponsored forced labor
July 27, 2015

Human Trafficking: U.S. Decisions Fails Forced Labor Victims: Turkmenistan placement support state-sponsored forced labor
July 27, 2015

Norway Refuses to Assess NBIM’s Financial Link to Forced Labor
NBIM urged to exclude Daewoo International for profiting from forced labor

July 14, 2015

Uzbek police brutalize human rights monitor Elena Urlaeva
June 2, 2015

Uzbek Government Forces Labor & Extorts Funds From Citizens and Corporations
April 13, 2015

Uzbek government arrests and deports international labor rights consultant
March 24, 2015

World Bank: No Probe of Link to Abuses in Uzbekistan
February 2, 2015

World Bank: Investigate Uzbekistan’s Forced Labor- Inspection Panel Should Ensure Funds Not Used for Abuses
December 17, 2014

Petition to the OECD Seeks to End Daewoo's Use of Cotton Harvested with Forced & Child Labor in Uzbekistan
December 3, 2014

Government of Uzbekistan Increased Forced Labor of Adults in 2014 Cotton Harvest
November 13, 2014

“Uzbekistan: No Advancement,” concludes United States Labor Department
October 8, 2014

Global Day of Action to End Forced Labor in the Cotton Sector in Uzbekistan
September 30, 2014

Statement from the Cotton Campaign on the Start of the Cotton Harvest in Uzbekistan
September 8, 2014

Protest at Daewoo in Seoul Against Forced Labor Profiteering
July 9, 2014

Government of Uzbekistan: Release Farmer Alikul Sarymsakov
June 30, 2014

Uzbekistan: US Decision Aids Forced Labor Victims
June 20, 2014

World Bank: Problematic Uzbekistan Projects Approved
June 12, 2014

Concerns About World Bank Loans to the Agriculture Sector of Uzbekistan
May 27, 2014

Daewoo: Help End Uzbek Cotton Slavery
February 12, 2014

Global Coalition Calls on the Asian Development Bank to Halt Project Supporting the Cotton Industry in Uzbekistan
January 27, 2014

State forced-labour system continued throughout the 2013 cotton harvest in Uzbekistan, despite the presence of International Labour Organization monitors
November 27, 2013

Police Detain South Korean Visitors & Uzbek Human Rights Leader
October 3, 2013

Uzbekistan: Journalist Sergei Naumov Detained, after Reporting on Forced Labor
September 27, 2013

Asian Development Bank: Reconsider Uzbekistan Project
September 11, 2013

Formal Complaint Filed with the World Bank Inspection Panel
September 10, 2013

Statement from the Cotton Campaign on the Start of the Cotton Harvest in Uzbekistan
September 9, 2013

Daewoo International: Stop Profiting from Forced Labor & Start Respecting Workers
August 9, 2013

Activists Demonstrate at Nike Flagship Store, Call on Nike to Drop Company Profiting from Forced Labor Cotton
July 24, 2013

Advocacy Groups to Dow Jones: South Korean Company’s Transgressions Merit Removal from Sustainability Index
July 9, 2013

Activists Demonstrate at Nike Store, Call on Nike to Drop Company Profiting from Forced Labor Cotton
July 6, 2013

United States urges Uzbekistan to end forced labor
June 19, 2013

International Workers, Employers, Governments Call on Uzbekistan to End Forced Labour
June 11, 2013

ILRF Calls on U.S. Customs Service to Halt Imports of Forced Labor Cotton from Uzbekistan
May 15, 2013

Uzbekistan continues forced labor: U.S. should urge reform
April 16, 2013

Demonstration for Human Rights: Today, 12:00 PM at Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington, DC 
March 11, 2013

Uzbekistan: Call to Action to the US Government 
January 31, 2013

Uzbekistan: Forced Labor Widespread in Cotton Harvest More Adults, Older Children Required to Work, Abuses Persist
January 26, 2013

Consumers and Retailers: Take Action Now!
January 13, 2013

Uzbekistan 2012 Cotton Harvest: Continued State-Sponsored Forced Labor of Children and Adults
December 20, 2012

Human Rights Defenders Need Protection: Ezgulik Press Release
November 18, 2012

Over 100 Apparel Brands and Companies Have Signed the Cotton Pledge 
November 1, 2012

End Cotton Crimes: Remove Trade Preferences for Uzbek Cotton
October 29, 2012

Inditex Responds to Walk Free- Pledges to Boycott Forced-Labor Cotton from Uzbekistan
October 25, 2012

French OECD Office Condemns Trade of Products issued from Child Labor as Flagrant Violation of OECD Guidelines
October 8, 2012

Uzbek Citizens Call to "Boycott Uzbek Textile and Companies Using It"
September 20, 2012

Cotton Campaign Calls on UBTIC to End Its Support for State-Sponsored Forced Labor System of Cotton Production
September 13, 2012

Government of Uzbekistan Fails to Allow ILO Monitoring of Cotton Harvest:  Urgent Call to Action for Governments & Companies
September 10, 2012

Cotton Campaign Calls on AUCC Members to Safeguard Human Rights in Uzbekistan
August 15, 2012

EU Special Representative for Central Asia: Urge the Uzbek government to invite the ILO to monitor the cotton harvest
July 25, 2012

Uzbekistan: US Report Fails Child Labor Victims- Unwillingness to Impose Meaningful Consequences Allows Abuses to Continue
June 20, 2012

Uzbekistan: Grant Access to Cotton Monitors- EU Support for ILO Mission Crucial to Ending Forced Child Labor
May 31, 2012 

CONTACT: Cotton Campaign Coordinator - c/o International Labor Rights Forum, 1634 I Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20006. 
+1 202-347-4100, cottoncampaigncoordinator [at] gmail.com
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Uzbekistan's Forced Labor Problem >
      • Reports
      • Chronicle of Forced Labor
      • Photos/Video
      • FAQs
    • Turkmenistan's Forced Labor Problem >
      • Reports of Forced Labor in Turkmenistan's Cotton Sector
    • Forced Labor Cotton in Other Countries
    • Contact
  • Countries
    • Turkmenistan
    • Uzbekistan >
      • Uzbek Forum Key Findings 2020
    • Governments >
      • What other governments can do
    • International Organizations >
      • What the World Bank and Asian Development Bank can do
      • What the International Labor Organization can do
    • Companies >
      • What companies operating in Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan can do
      • What companies that use cotton can do
      • What investors can do
  • Take Action
  • Media
    • Press Releases >
      • A Changing Landscape in Uzbek Cotton Production
      • Bennett Freeman Remarks at ILO Roundtable
    • News
    • Videos
  • Blog