Xinjiang detention camps
Foreign Affairs Committee
Closed
Inquiry
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 …
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36
Recommendations
2
Conclusions
1
Report
6
Oral sessions
36
Letters
6
Events
Activity timeline 44 events
14 Nov
2021
2021
8 Jul
2021
2021
19 May
2021
2021
19 May
2021
2021
19 May
2021
2021
28 Apr
2021
2021
27 Apr
2021
2021
Oral evidence
21 Apr
2021
2021
21 Apr
2021
2021
14 Apr
2021
2021
14 Apr
2021
2021
13 Apr
2021
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
27 Apr 2021
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Nigel Adams
Paul Williams · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Rupert Ainley · Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
13 Apr 2021
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Foreign Affairs Committee
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
2 Mar 2021
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Chloe Cranston · Anti-slavery International
Dr Radomir Tylecote · Civitas
Dr Samantha Hoffman · Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI)
Sophie Richardson · Human Rights Watch
9 Feb 2021
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Foreign Affairs Committee
Andrew Opie · British Retail Consortium (BRC)
Damien Sanfilippo · Better Cotton Initiative
Peter McAllister · Ethical Trading Initiative
12 Jan 2021
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Foreign Affairs Committee
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
15 Dec 2020
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Foreign Affairs Committee
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
Reports 1 report · click to expand
| Title | HC No. | Published | Items | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Second Report - Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on A… | HC 198 | 8 Jul 2021 | 38 | Responded |
Recommendations & Conclusions
13 results
4
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
If the Chinese government continues to stall and prevent in-country investigations, the UK should propose...
If the Chinese government continues to stall and prevent in-country investigations, the UK should propose a Human Rights Council motion that the High Commissioner for Human Rights conduct an investigation into the atrocities in Xinjiang from outside of China. The …
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Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, noting its ongoing efforts to pressure China for access and welcomes the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights' plans to finalise and publish an assessment of available information on atrocities in Xinjiang by the end of the year, which aligns with the call for external investigation.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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9
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
The ‘D10’ model of democratic countries is a good starting point for coalition- building but...
The ‘D10’ model of democratic countries is a good starting point for coalition- building but cannot be the limit—significant diplomatic efforts should also be Never Again: The UK’s Responsibility to Act on Atrocities in Xinjiang and Beyond 27 focused on …
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Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, detailing its ongoing and past diplomatic efforts to build broad international coalitions, including leading UN joint statements, coordinating asset freezes with 29 other countries, and using its G7 Presidency to address the situation in Xinjiang.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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10
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
We recommend that the Government commits financial and bureaucratic resources to ensuring future Build Back...
We recommend that the Government commits financial and bureaucratic resources to ensuring future Build Back Better World projects meet all internationally recognised standards, including on labour rights, environmental measures, and transparency.
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to strong environmental, social, financial, labour, governance, and transparency standards at the heart of its G7 partnership approach, building on agreed multilateral standards for quality infrastructure.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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12
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
For sanctions to be effective, they must be used in full coordination with allies and...
For sanctions to be effective, they must be used in full coordination with allies and against those with whom ultimate responsibility for the Xinjiang atrocities lies. We recommend that the Government intensify efforts to coordinate sanctions with allies to consistently …
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Government Response
The government highlights its past coordinated sanctions with allies against Chinese officials and entities for abuses in Xinjiang, and commits to continuing to keep potential listings under review and working closely with allies on future action.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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14
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
The Government should conduct an urgent consultation with members of these communities in the UK...
The Government should conduct an urgent consultation with members of these communities in the UK to determine the extent of harassment they are facing and the type of support they require, offering support and protection as appropriate.
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, committing to conduct further consultation with the Uyghur community to understand their challenges and use findings to inform government policy.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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19
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
In its response to this report, we ask that the Government inform us of when...
In its response to this report, we ask that the Government inform us of when the Department for International Trade will share the export review’s findings and actions with Parliament.
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, committing that the Department for International Trade will report back to Parliament at the conclusion of its urgent review of export controls as they apply to Xinjiang.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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25
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
The Government should share Post-level intelligence on specific risk areas and factors with UK companies...
The Government should share Post-level intelligence on specific risk areas and factors with UK companies operating in China when appropriate to do so, to ensure it contributes to and supports private sector due diligence within the country.
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, stating it already provides detailed guidance to UK companies operating in China, drawing on information from its overseas network, and commits to keeping this guidance updated.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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26
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
The Government should use information gained from local sources, Posts, and civil society to identify...
The Government should use information gained from local sources, Posts, and civil society to identify specific factories and companies that make use of forced labour and prohibit them from importing to the UK through the sanctions regime. (Paragraph 51) Never …
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Government Response
The government highlights existing measures and previously announced actions, including some sanctions and supply chain due diligence, as their approach to tackling forced labour and does not commit to a new process of identifying specific factories for import bans via sanctions.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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27
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
The UK should press for the International Labour Organization to conduct a full investigation of...
The UK should press for the International Labour Organization to conduct a full investigation of the Xinjiang region in order to verify the extent of forced labour there as a matter of urgent priority. (Paragraph 52) Technology and research
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation, noting they have already made a joint statement to the ILO to investigate forced labour in Xinjiang and will continue to press the ILO on this priority.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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28
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
Where a Chinese institution possesses known or suspected links to repression in Xinjiang, or substantial...
Where a Chinese institution possesses known or suspected links to repression in Xinjiang, or substantial connections to Chinese military research, UK universities should avoid any form of technological or research collaboration with them. They should also conduct urgent reviews of …
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Government Response
The government details a range of existing measures and support mechanisms already in place to help universities manage risks and make informed decisions regarding international research collaborations, including new guidance, export controls, and a new advice team. It commits to keeping this support under review, rather than explicitly mandating universities to avoid or terminate collaborations based on suspected links.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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29
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
We recommend that the Government fund and manage the creation of a regularly- updated due...
We recommend that the Government fund and manage the creation of a regularly- updated due diligence and intelligence database to provide universities with a directory of Chinese institutions and companies that possess strong or suspected connections to technology-aided human rights …
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Government Response
The government does not commit to funding a new due diligence database or convening a new panel, stating that existing security guidelines published by Universities UK, which advise universities on risk management and due diligence, are currently judged appropriate. They will continue to keep their approach under review.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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36
Recommendation
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
The Government should commit to funding further such research, which is doing vital work to...
The Government should commit to funding further such research, which is doing vital work to expose those injustices which the Communist Party of China is eager to hide. (Paragraph 66) Conclusion
Government Response
The government explicitly accepts the recommendation and commits to funding further valuable research on the human rights situation in Xinjiang.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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38
Conclusion
Accepted
Second Report - Never Again: The U…
While we commend the ongoing work of the UK Government in speaking out and leading...
While we commend the ongoing work of the UK Government in speaking out and leading on the issue of Xinjiang at the United Nations, we are concerned that its actions do not match its rhetoric and have so far proved …
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Government Response
The government acknowledges the report's concerns and the need for further action, outlining a range of robust actions already undertaken, including leading UN statements, imposing sanctions, and raising concerns with China. They state they have addressed each of the Committee's 36 recommendations in full.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
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Correspondence 36 letters
19 May 2021
Correspondence from Minister Nigel Adams following his appearance before the Foreign Affairs Committee on 27 April 2021, dated 06/05/2021
Parliament page
19 May 2021
Correspondence with UK Research and Innovation relating to Xinjiang, dated 11/05/2021 and 18/03/2021
Parliament page
19 May 2021
Correspondence with the International Labour Organisation relating to Xinjiang, dated 04/05/2021 and 19/04/2021
Parliament page
28 Apr 2021
Correspondence with UNESCO relating to Xinjiang, dated 21/04/2021 and 22/03/2021
Parliament page
21 Apr 2021
Correspondence with the University of Strathclyde relating to Xinjiang, dated 12/04/2021 and 30/03/2021
Parliament page
21 Apr 2021
Correspondence with the University of Surrey relating to Xinjiang, dated 13/04/2021 and 30/03/2021
Parliament page
14 Apr 2021
Correspondence with The Royal Society relating to Xinjiang, dated 31/03/2021 and 18/03/2021
Parliament page
14 Apr 2021
Correspondence with Imperial College London relating to Xinjiang, dated 31/03/2021 and 24/03/2021
Parliament page
24 Mar 2021
Correspondence with Russell Group relating to Xinjiang, dated 22/03/2021 and 18/03/2021
Parliament page
24 Mar 2021
Correspondence with TJX Europe relating to Xinjiang, dated 17/03/2021 and 03/03/2021
Parliament page
24 Mar 2021
Correspondence with River Island relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/03/2021 and 01/03/2021
Parliament page
17 Mar 2021
Correspondence with Mountain Warehouse relating to Xinjiang, dated 11/03/2021 and 01/03/2021
Parliament page
10 Mar 2021
Correspondence with UNESCO relating to Xinjiang, dated 05/03/2021 and 18/02/2021
Parliament page
10 Mar 2021
Correspondence with Barbour relating to Xinjiang, dated 04/03/2021 and 19/02/2021
Parliament page
3 Mar 2021
Correspondence with Ikea relating to Xinjiang, dated 01/03/2021 and 15/02/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with Matalan relating to Xinjiang, dated 15/02/2021 and 02/02/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with Asda relating to Xinjiang, dated 10/02/2021 and 27/01/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with JD Group relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/02/2021 and 03/02/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with Hobbycraft relating to Xinjiang, dated 18/02/2021 and 15/02/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with Dunelm relating to Xinjiang, dated 22/02/2021 and 15/02/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with Sainsbury's relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/02/2021 and 02/02/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with Next relating to Xinjiang, dated 09/02/2021 and 28/01/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with the University of Cambridge relating to Xinjiang, dated 19/02/2021 and 08/02/2021
Parliament page
24 Feb 2021
Correspondence with Tesco relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/02/2021 and 02/02/2021
Parliament page
23 Feb 2021
Correspondence with Asos relating to Xinjiang, dated 11/02/2021 and 27/01/2021
Parliament page
3 Feb 2021
Correspondence with the University of Manchester relating to Xinjiang, dated 14/01/2021 and 29/01/2021
Parliament page
27 Jan 2021
Correspondence with John Lewis relating to Xinjiang, dated 18/12/2020 and 14/01/2021
Parliament page
19 Jan 2021
Correspondence with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the UK on the Committee’s inquiry into Xinjiang detention camps, dated 19/01/2021
Parliament page
13 Jan 2021
Correspondence with New Look relating to Xinjiang, dated 16/12/2020 and 05/01/2021
Parliament page
17 Dec 2020
Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to determination of genocide in Xinjiang, dated 08/12/2020 and 24/11/2020
Parliament page
2 Dec 2020
Correspondence with UNIQLO relating to Xinjiang, dated 23/11/2020 and 9/11/2020
Parliament page
26 Nov 2020
From committee
Letter to the Foreign Secretary on determining whether the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang constitutes genocide, dated 24/11/2020
Parliament page
18 Nov 2020
Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to the Uyghur Muslims, dated 6/11/2020 and 22/10/2020
Parliament page
18 Nov 2020
Correspondence with the Foreign Secretary relating to Tibet, dated 20/10/2020 and 7/10/2020
Parliament page
18 Nov 2020
Correspondence with Primark relating to Xinjiang, dated 10/11/2020 and 20/10/2020
Parliament page
18 Nov 2020
Correspondence with BURBERRY relating to Xinjiang, dated 9/11/2020 and 19/10/2020
Parliament page