Select Committee · Foreign Affairs Committee

Xinjiang detention camps

Status: Closed Opened: 15 Sep 2020 Closed: 14 Nov 2021 36 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

This inquiry will examine the ways in which the UK Government can prevent UK companies from benefitting from forced labour in Xinjiang, support members of the Uyghur diaspora community, and strengthen the UK Government’s, and particularly the FCDO’s, atrocity prevention mechanisms. Read the call for evidence for more details about the inquiry

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act… HC 198 8 Jul 2021 38 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
8 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted in Part

The collection and preservation of evidence will be essential for future accountability for these crimes.

The collection and preservation of evidence will be essential for future accountability for these crimes. We recommend that the Government allocate funding for the creation of an international mechanism for collecting evidence on the crimes in Xinjiang, and provides further resources to help locate and record the details of those … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts in part, committing to continue funding independent research to collect evidence of human rights violations in Xinjiang. However, it defers allocating funding for an international mechanism until such a UN mechanism is established, citing the need for a resolution, and does not …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
13 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted in Part

The UK Government should push for an urgent, independent review of UNESCO’s investigatory powers and...

The UK Government should push for an urgent, independent review of UNESCO’s investigatory powers and processes, and formally request that the organisation pursue its mandate with determination and commitment. The UK should adopt a policy of coordinating with allies to block and reduce the influence of the worst human rights- … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees that UNESCO should be aware of the situation and commits to raising its concerns with UNESCO partners, but implicitly rejects pushing for an urgent independent review of UNESCO's powers or coordinating to block countries, citing UNESCO's limited mandate.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
22 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted in Part

Trade commissioners, envoys, and officers should be equipped with regularly updated toolkits and training to...

Trade commissioners, envoys, and officers should be equipped with regularly updated toolkits and training to ensure they are fully informed of the forced labour risk associated with the countries in which they are working. This should be supported by a public Government-led grading system of countries’ adherence to global labour … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation to provide a one-day training course on forced labour for Trade Envoys and officials, but rejects the proposal for a government-led grading system, stating this role is best for specialist organisations.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
30 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted in Part

Equipment manufactured by companies such as Hikvision and Dahua should not be permitted to operate...

Equipment manufactured by companies such as Hikvision and Dahua should not be permitted to operate within the UK. We recommend that the Government prohibits organisations and individuals in the UK from doing business with any companies known to be associated with the Xinjiang atrocities through the sanctions regime. The Government … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government has not committed to a general prohibition on all UK firms and individuals doing business with implicated companies. However, it has published guidance for UK firms, is introducing new guidance for public sector bodies to exclude suppliers linked to human rights violations, and …
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
33 Recommendation Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s R… Accepted in Part

The Government should provide atrocity prevention ‘toolkits’ and atrocity prevention training for FCDO staff, with...

The Government should provide atrocity prevention ‘toolkits’ and atrocity prevention training for FCDO staff, with a mandatory refresher course every three years for all staff in diplomatic, programming, or policy-related roles.

Government response AI summary
The government has developed a dedicated atrocity prevention training module for all FCDO staff and provides guidance material, committing to continuously look for further opportunities to enhance this offer. However, it does not specifically commit to mandatory refresher courses or the creation of explicit 'toolkits'.
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Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Oral evidence sessions

6 sessions
Date Witnesses
27 Apr 2021 Nigel Adams, Paul Williams · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Rupert Ainley · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office View ↗
13 Apr 2021 Azeem Ibrahim · US Army War College, Charles Parton OBE · Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Peter Irwin · Uyghur Human Rights Project, Rayhan Asat · American Turkic International Lawyers Association, Rushan Abbas · Campaign for Uyghurs View ↗
2 Mar 2021 Chloe Cranston · Anti-slavery International, Dr Radomir Tylecote · Civitas, Dr Samantha Hoffman · Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Sophie Richardson · Human Rights Watch View ↗
9 Feb 2021 Andrew Opie · British Retail Consortium (BRC), Damien Sanfilippo · Better Cotton Initiative, Peter McAllister · Ethical Trading Initiative View ↗
12 Jan 2021 Ambassador Stephen Rapp · Office of Global Criminal Justice, Dr Gregory Stanton · Genocide Watch, Dr Kate Ferguson · Protection Approaches, Dr Simon Adams · Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, Nicola Reindorp · Crisis Action View ↗
15 Dec 2020 Dolkun Isa · World Uyghur Congress, Nury Turkel · United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin · University of Minnesota Law School, Schona Jolly QC · Bar Human Rights Committee View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Ambassador Stephen Rapp · Former United States Ambassador-at-Large Office of Global Criminal Justice 1
Andrew Opie · Director of Food and Sustainability British Retail Consortium (BRC) 1
Azeem Ibrahim · Research Professor, Strategic Studies Institute US Army War College 1
Charles Parton OBE · Senior Associate Fellow Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) 1
Chloe Cranston · Head of Thematic Advocacy Programmes Anti-slavery International 1
Damien Sanfilippo · Director of Standards & Assurance Better Cotton Initiative 1
Dolkun Isa · President World Uyghur Congress 1
Dr Gregory Stanton · Founding President and Chairman Genocide Watch 1
Dr Kate Ferguson · Co-Executive Director Protection Approaches 1
Dr Radomir Tylecote · Director, Defence and Security for Democracy Unit Civitas 1
Dr Samantha Hoffman · Senior Analyst Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) 1
Dr Simon Adams · Executive Director Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect 1
Nicola Reindorp · Deputy Executive Director Crisis Action 1
Nigel Adams 1
Nury Turkel · Commissioner United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 1
Paul Williams · Director Open Societies and Human Rights Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
Peter Irwin · Senior Program Officer for Advocacy and Communica… Uyghur Human Rights Project 1
Peter McAllister · Executive Director Ethical Trading Initiative 1
Professor Fionnuala Ní Aoláin University of Minnesota Law School 1
Rayhan Asat · Attorney, Yale World Fellow, President American Turkic International Lawyers Association 1
Rupert Ainley · Interim Director North East Asia and China Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office 1
Rushan Abbas · Founder and Executive Director Campaign for Uyghurs 1
Schona Jolly QC · Chair Bar Human Rights Committee 1
Sophie Richardson · China Director Human Rights Watch 1

Correspondence

36 letters
DateDirectionTitle
19 May 2021 Correspondence with the International Labour Organisation relating to Xinjiang,…
19 May 2021 Correspondence from Minister Nigel Adams following his appearance before the Fo…
19 May 2021 Correspondence with UK Research and Innovation relating to Xinjiang, dated 11/0…
28 Apr 2021 Correspondence with UNESCO relating to Xinjiang, dated 21/04/2021 and 22/03/2021
21 Apr 2021 Correspondence with the University of Surrey relating to Xinjiang, dated 13/04/…
21 Apr 2021 Correspondence with the University of Strathclyde relating to Xinjiang, dated 1…
14 Apr 2021 Correspondence with Imperial College London relating to Xinjiang, dated 31/03/2…
14 Apr 2021 Correspondence with The Royal Society relating to Xinjiang, dated 31/03/2021 an…
24 Mar 2021 Correspondence with River Island relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/03/2021 and 01/…
24 Mar 2021 Correspondence with TJX Europe relating to Xinjiang, dated 17/03/2021 and 03/03…
24 Mar 2021 Correspondence with Russell Group relating to Xinjiang, dated 22/03/2021 and 18…
17 Mar 2021 Correspondence with Mountain Warehouse relating to Xinjiang, dated 11/03/2021 a…
10 Mar 2021 Correspondence with UNESCO relating to Xinjiang, dated 05/03/2021 and 18/02/2021
10 Mar 2021 Correspondence with Barbour relating to Xinjiang, dated 04/03/2021 and 19/02/20…
3 Mar 2021 Correspondence with Ikea relating to Xinjiang, dated 01/03/2021 and 15/02/2021
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with Tesco relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/02/2021 and 02/02/2021
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with Asda relating to Xinjiang, dated 10/02/2021 and 27/01/2021
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with Matalan relating to Xinjiang, dated 15/02/2021 and 02/02/20…
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with JD Group relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/02/2021 and 03/02/2…
24 Feb 2021 Correspondence with Hobbycraft relating to Xinjiang, dated 18/02/2021 and 15/02…