Recommendation 11

HM Government · verbatim extract Not Addressed

Partially Agree 47. The UK Government closely monitors Chinese human rights violations in Xinjiang and members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim minorities in Xinjiang continue to suffer serious violations of their human rights by the authorities of the People’s Republic of China. We note that the five Central Asian states did not sign a UK-led joint statement at the UN in October 2023 on the situation in Xinjiang, instead signing a separate statement offering support for China’s actions. We will continue to raise the issue with Central Asian partners. We also work with UNHCR to encourage Central Asian governments to bring their asylum procedures in line with best international practice and the Conventions which some have signed. Conclusion/recommendation 12. The crackdown on human rights defenders as well as the repression of Pamiri culture and Ismaili religion in Gorno-Badakshan in Tajikistan is a particularly concerning example of human rights abuses by the Tajik Government. We recommend that the Government supports the call of the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues for an impartial and transparent investigation according to international standards and takes steps to prevent tensions and escalation of violence in Gorno-Badakshan. It should raise this situation formally with the Tajik Government bilaterally and press them to implement recommendations to be made in the Universal Periodic Review follow-up report due in March 2024. We further recommend that the FCDO add Tajikistan to the list of priority countries included in its annual report on human rights. The Kyrgyz Republic and Kazakhstan should be also considered for inclusion. Partially Agree 48. We continue to work closely with like-minded countries to lobby Tajikistan to improve its protection of human rights, not only in Gorno-Badakshan (GBAO) but across the country. The UK raised this issue in a statement at the OSCE in May 2022, calling for restraint, refraining from excessive use of force, incitement to violence and for a thorough investigation into recent events in GBAO. This statement was subsequently supported by the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues. The issue was also raised in our bilateral political dialogue with Tajikistan in March 2023. We will continue to raise Gorno-Badakshan at senior levels in the Tajik government. 49. We regularly review the countries included in the UK’s Human Rights Priority Countries list. This list is generally in place for an extended period and has countries with both positive and negative trajectories. The FCDO is closely monitoring human rights developments in each of the five Central Asian countries and will continue to review the inclusion of Tajikistan. Conclusion/recommendation 13. We recommend, once more, that the Government implements the recommendations made in the Committee’s report Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond, to focus on supply chains that might be facilitating forced labour in the cotton fields of Turkmenistan. Lessons should be learnt and applied from initiatives that have brought about reforms on cotton picking in Uzbekistan. Partially Agree 50. The UK Government remains committed to eradicating all forms of modern slavery, forced labour and human trafficking (MSHT) in line with achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.7 by 2030. The UK works with international partners to reduce the risks for those most vulnerable, particularly women and children, and to ensure that victims and survivors are provided with the support they need to begin rebuilding their lives. The UK’s international priorities on MSHT include eliminating forced labour in supply chains, tackling the worst forms of child labour, and ending the exploitation of women and girls. 51. We engage through bilateral and multilateral fora to find ways to tackle forced labour in global supply chains and ensure workers benefit from high labour standards domestically and internationally. In 2021, under the UK’s G7 Presidency, G7 members committed to eradicate the use of all forms of forced labour from global supply chains. Under Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, commercial businesses who operate in the UK and have a turnover of £36m or more are required to report annually on the steps they have taken to prevent modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. This was landmark legislation at the time and the UK was the first country in the world to introduce such provisions. 52. The UK has consistently supported the UN Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on business and human rights, which are widely regarded as the authoritative international framework to steer practical action by Governments and businesses worldwide on this important agenda. In response to the UNGPs, the UK produced a National Action Plan (NAP). We are clear we expect all UK businesses to comply with all applicable laws; identify and prevent human rights risks; and behave in line with the