The French judiciary announced yesterday that it has opened an investigation into the crime of concealment of crimes against humanity, following the complaint filed by our organizations and a Uyghur victim, represented by Bourdon & Associés on April 9th. It targets several multinational garment and footwear companies for their alleged ties with factories involved in the forced labour imposed on the population in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region...

This complaint shows the existence of commercial links of at least 4 companies, Inditex (which owns brands such as Zara, Bershka, Pull and Bear, Massimo Duti), Uniqlo, SMCP (which owns brands such as Sandro, Maje, Claudie Pierlot, De Fursac) and Skechers USA, as well as many others, with several economic entities in the Uyghur Autonomous Region of Xinjiang, where the population is subjected to forced labour.

Numerous European brands and labels, present in our daily lives, could thus market and profit from goods manufactured by means of the enslavement of Uyghurs. The enrichment of these companies, knowingly to the detriment of human rights, often comes with ethical commitments, all the more voluntarily formulated as they have no binding value.

Our organizations have filed this complaint to shed some light on the role played by multinational companies in this situation and to enable the French courts to rule on their possible criminal liability...

“We welcome the opening of a preliminary investigation into the handling and profiting of crimes against humanity, which demonstrates the potential involvement of economic actors in the commission of the most serious crimes in order to increase their profit margins. By choosing to subcontract their production in the Xinjiang region, companies could benefit from the crimes against humanity committed against Uyghur workers.This investigation will allow the courts to decide on the possible criminal liabilities of these companies.” says Sandra Cossart, Sherpa’s executive director...

This is the first time that an investigation for “concealment of crimes against humanity” has been opened against multinationals...