World Uyghur Congress welcomes Volkswagen’s exit from Xinjiang region, calls for industry-wide accountability

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) welcomed Volkswagen’s (VW) announcement that it will sell its plant in East Turkistan, a region where the WUC has long campaigned against the company’s ties to forced labour.

The decision comes amid growing international pressure over allegations of human rights abuses, including widespread use of Uyghur forced labor and repression of Turkic minorities in East Turkestan, also known as Xinjiang.

The WUC, which has been calling for Volkswagen’s departure since 2019, applauded the company’s decision but stressed the importance of transparency in corporate actions. “Volkswagen’s withdrawal from East Turkestan cannot be separated from the well-documented allegations of forced labor and repression imposed by the state,” said Gheyur Kurban, director of the WUC Berlin office.

“Companies like Volkswagen must acknowledge the ethical considerations that influence such decisions,” he/she said.

Qurban highlighted that Volkswagen’s exit, while positive, should send a broader message about the need for businesses to prioritize human rights over profits, especially when operating in sectors with well-documented abuses. Be. “This sends a strong signal to the world and other companies that human rights must be a priority in business decisions, even if it is inconvenient,” he/she said.

The WUC’s campaign against Volkswagen’s operations in East Turkistan has been extensive, including protests, media campaigns and direct engagement with the company. In recent years, international organizations including Human Rights Watch have highlighted the company’s failure to address forced labor concerns associated with its supply chains in the region.

While Volkswagen’s exit is an important step, WUC notes that the global automotive industry’s shift toward electric vehicles (EVs) raises ongoing concerns.

A 2022 report by Sheffield Hallam University, Driving Forces, highlighted the links between forced labor in East Turkistan and the production of key EV components, including lithium and lead. Similarly, Human Rights Watch’s Asleep at the Wheel report warns of forced labor within the aluminum value chain, which is essential for the manufacturing of vehicle frames, engine blocks, wheels, and battery foil.

As the automotive industry continues to grow rapidly, WUC calls on all companies to work harder in their supply chains to ensure that Uyghur forced labor and human rights abuses do not impact their operations.

“Volkswagen’s exit is a step in the right direction but its impact will only be meaningful if the entire industry commits to transparency and ethical practices.” he/she adds.

WUC continues to insist that companies must be held accountable for their involvement in human rights violations in East Turkestan and China. Until state-imposed forced labor in the region ends, WUC argues that businesses must take responsibility for their role in these ongoing abuses.