COTTON 2014: A CHRONICLE OF FORCED LABOUR OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Issue 1, May 15, 2014
Forced labour has been a defining component of the state-order system of cotton production in Uzbekistan for decades, violating the rights of millions of children and adults. The government of Uzbekistan steadfastly denies the existence of forced labour in the country.
In April 2014, the planting of cotton started, and the Uzbek authorities are continuing to use forced labour. As in previous years, they appear set to use forced labour at all stages of cotton production, including spring planting and the autumn cotton harvest. During this year’s planting, authorities once
again coercively mobilize, teachers and medical professionals to the fields.
According to information received from UGF’s monitors, local authorities attracted public sector employees to weeding cotton in droves. The main burden bear educational and medical institutions.
