As Europe continues its struggle to address the ongoing issue of Uyghur forced labor, it is becoming increasingly evident that change must come sooner rather than later.
With the United States already taking steps to remove products made by this exploitative system from store shelves, European countries should follow suit and make a concerted effort to prevent the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from profiting off of genocide.
In a positive development for the cause, the European Commission proposed a ban on goods made with forced labor in October 2022.
The European Parliament has since approved anti-forced labor regulations in April, but in order to truly make an impact and reduce this horrifying trade, the European Council must ratify these measures.
While Britain can boast about public corporate reporting on forced labor, thanks to the Modern Slavery Act of 2015, there is still a lack of legislation or legal precedent in place that specifically prohibits imports from Xinjiang.
Despite this evidence, however, Europe has been slow to act, often preferring strong rhetoric over concrete action.
Considering the CCP’s ongoing mistreatment and exploitation of Uyghurs as a slave-labor force, it is essential that the European Council ratify the Forced Labour Regulation adopted by the European Parliament at its next meeting in June and move forward with implementing these measures.
By taking these actions, Europe and our American allies can join together to stand against the horrors of forced labor, echoing the sentiments of William Wilberforce, who once said that now is “a time [in] which all … should be strenuous in their endeavours to lighten the vessel of state, of such a load of guilt and infamy.