March 7, 2021 News Digest OUR CAMPAIGN ISSUES IN THE NEWS Law & policy German companies to be held accountable for rights abuses Germany is set to implement a new law in an effort to hold German businesses accountable for environmental and human rights abuses in their supply chains. Businesses will be subject to fines and risk exclusion from public procurement processes if they're found to be breaching human rights abroad. Freedom United is calling on all governments to pass mandatory human rights due diligence laws to hold both private and public sectors accountable for rights abuses in their supply chains. Read more... Sign the petition Forced labor U.N. rights chief finds Uyghur Region warrants investigation U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has called for an independent investigation into the Uyghur Region following damning reports of state-sanctioned forced labor and arbitrary detention of the Uyghur people and other Muslim ethnic minorities. The last visit to China from a U.N. rights chief was in 2005 – Bachelet is still waiting to reach an agreement with the Chinese government to facilitate a visit. Read more... Sign the petition TOP NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Supply chain Boohoo faces U.S. import ban over modern slavery allegations Fashion retailer, Boohoo, could be facing an import ban from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Campaigning group, Liberty Shared, has submitted petitions to U.S. CBP detailing "compelling" evidence of forced labor in Boohoo's supply chain. U.S. CBP is now launching an investigation, with a potential import ban posing serious implications for Boohoo. Read more Law & policy Dutch trade mission to Qatar postponed over migrant labor practices Read more Forced labor Brazilian government takes landmark action against tobacco exporter Read more Our team relies on donations from supporters, like you, to continue our crucial work. Can you make a one-off or monthly gift to Freedom United?  Donate Save the date! Are you a bookworm and interested in modern slavery's role in the political economy? Join us for Book Club Live on March 24 at 11am EST/4pm GMT – we'll be joined by two brilliant authors Emily Kenway and Amelia Pang for a discussion, open to all and moderated by Baroness Lola Young. Register here! Miriam Karmali Freedom United ©2021 Freedom United is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. 4501 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 110, Raleigh, NC 27604 USA