ASHGABAT - The Turkmenistan government is being urged to intensify its efforts to eliminate state-imposed forced labour in the cotton industry, by the Cotton Campaign collective of NGOs, trade unions, brands and investors.
It comes after a review this month by the UN Human Rights Committee which raised strong concerns about the forced mobilisation of civil servants to pick cotton, in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The committee, which was provided with evidence by the Cotton Campaign, urged Turkmenistan to eliminate forced labour, increase labour inspections and establish an effective complaint mechanism for adults and children in forced labour.
