EU passes regulation to block goods made with Uyghur forced labour
EU Bans Forced Labour Products to Protect Uyghurs and Others
The European Union has approved new rules to stop the sale of products made with forced labour. This decision aims to help people like the Uyghurs in Xinjiang and others in North Korea. The EU says about 27.6 million people are forced to work worldwide, mostly in private industries. The new rule means EU countries must stop selling products made with forced labour. However, they need to improve their ability to check and stop these products from being sold.
The idea for this rule started in 2020 when the EU was about to make a deal with China. The European Parliament wanted action on forced labour before agreeing. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, called for a special tool to tackle forced labour in 2022. But the rule won't start until 2028.
Maya Wang from Human Rights Watch says this is a big win for human rights, even though the rule is not as strong as the US version. The US has a law that stops goods from Xinjiang unless proven they aren't made with forced labour. The EU's rule doesn't assume all Xinjiang products are made with forced labour, but it's still a big step.
China denies mistreating Uyghurs and calls it foreign interference. But many countries have criticized China for its treatment of Uyghurs and other groups.
Doubts Revealed
EU
EU stands for the European Union, which is a group of 27 countries in Europe that work together on various issues like trade, laws, and human rights.
Forced Labour
Forced labour means making people work against their will, often in very bad conditions, without fair pay or freedom to leave.
Uyghurs
Uyghurs are a group of people who mostly live in Xinjiang, a region in China. They have their own unique culture and language.
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is a region in China where many Uyghurs live. There have been reports of forced labour and human rights issues there.
Regulation
A regulation is a rule or law made by a government or organization to control how things are done.
Enforcement
Enforcement means making sure that people follow the rules or laws. It often involves checking and taking action if rules are broken.
Human Rights
Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that all people should have, like the right to be treated fairly and to live safely.
Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act
This is a law in the United States that aims to stop products made with forced labour, especially from the Uyghur region, from being sold in the US.
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