Human rights group: Canberra should adopt targeted sanctions to ban imports of Xinjiang forced labor products:

The non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday (September 13) local time in Australia that the Australian government should take firm action in response to evidence that Beijing is targeting Uyghur and other Turkic communities in Xinjiang and committing crimes against humanity. further evidence of guilt. Those actions should include targeting sanctions, introducing legislation to prevent the import of forced-labor goods, and taking the lead in holding China to account at meetings of the United Nations Human Rights Council.The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, released a report on Beijing's alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang, which could amount to crimes against humanity, on the eve of her departure. The UN Human Rights Office report, which includes testimonies from victims, confirms mass arbitrary detentions, torture, cultural persecution, forced labor, and other serious human rights violations in Xinjiang.

The report recommends action by countries, businesses and the international community around the world to end these abuses and advance justice and accountability.

"Australia should impose targeted sanctions on Chinese government officials suspected of crimes against humanity and other mistreatment .

Richardson said the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada had already taken these corresponding steps; Australia should join these efforts to hold those suspected of abuses accountable and stand firmly with the victims. In March 2021, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada worked together to impose targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on senior officials in Xinjiang accused of gross human rights violations against Uyghur Muslims.In 2021, Australia passed "Magnitsky-style" legislation that reformed Australia's sanctions framework and made it easier for the government to impose sanctions on those responsible for serious human rights abuses and abuses, no matter where in the world these actions take place. place. Australia's opposition Coalition said it would provide bipartisan support for any "appropriately targeted sanctions" imposed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government in response to human rights abuses in Xinjiang following the release of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report support.When asked about the UN report on Xinjiang, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on September 6 that she was working on improving Australia's Modern Slavery Act to "ensure that we do not promote, do not condone, Does not financially support forced labor”.While the Australian Government's review of the Modern Slavery Act, which may lead to positive developments, will not be completed until March 2023. Human Rights Watch said Australia should strengthen its Modern Slavery Act legislation, which requires businesses to identify and address forced labour and other human rights risks in their own operations and in global value chains . Human Rights Watch urged the Australian government to pass new legislation prohibiting forced labor, designate Xinjiang as a region with a higher risk of forced labor, and presume forced labor was used in all or part of imports from Xinjiang.