Uzbekistan and Iran share with Russia the lowest possible rating from the US State Department in its annual report on human trafficking around the world.
Uzbekistan forced millions of children and adults to work in its cotton harvest this year, resulting in deaths, harrassment and extortion, a report by a human rights group said on Friday.
The Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights said the government used fewer children than in 2013 to pick this year's cotton but had used more adults instead, including teachers and doctors.
Almost 36 million people are living as slaves across the globe with an index on Monday listing Mauritania, Uzbekistan, Haiti, Qatar and India as the nations where modern-day slavery is most prevalent.
Uzbekistan and Iran share with Russia the lowest possible rating from the US State Department in its annual report on human trafficking around the world.
(Washington) – The United States government’s decision to downgrade Uzbekistan in a human trafficking ranking based on its use of forced and child labor sends a powerful message of support to the millions of Uzbeks forced to pick the country’s cotton crop.
Along with Iran, the two countries received failing marks from Washington because their governments have not addressed -- and have no concrete plans to address -- the problem.
Conscientious consumers are credited with driving change in forced child labor practices inside one of the world's most repressive regimes: Uzbekistan.
But while progress has been made, the fight is far from over.
Thailand and Myanmar's joint effort to tackle human-trafficking is continuing with Yangon establishing more anti-human trafficking centres along border towns such as Myawaddy and Koh Song.
