BOSTON/LISBON - A group of religious and socially conscious investors and other funds are ramping up pressure on Western companies over alleged human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region, highlighting the challenges for brands trying to maintain their business ties amid rising tensions.
Anita Dorett, program director for the Investor Alliance for Human Rights, which put together the request to the fashion brands and other big corporate names, said she was worried that some companies had moved to scrub language about policies on forced labour from their websites, or pledged to buy more cotton from Xinjiang, in fear of a backlash from Chinese social media and companies.
The Human Rights section of H&M’s website hmgroup.com on Friday no longer carried a link to a 2020 statement on Xinjiang. The statement could still be accessed through the page’s direct address.H&M and Inditex did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on the investor group’s approach.
Hugo Boss said last week on Chinese social media that it would continue sourcing Xinjiang cotton. Company spokeswoman Carolin Westermann said on Friday an undated English-language statement on its website stating that “so far, HUGO BOSS has not procured any goods originating in the Xinjiang region from direct suppliers” was its official position and that the Chinese statement was not authorised.
The Investor Alliance for Human Rights has more than 160 institutional investors and other organisations as members, representing more than $5 trillion in assets under management currently, its website said. Both companies have ramped up their ESG efforts by publishing more details of their engagements and proxy votes at portfolio companies and by introducing new funds using ESG criteria to pick holdings.
The west has benefited so much from their propaganda lies to demonize China, of course they won't stop. Can you expect the Nazi stop itself from robbing the Jewish people? The west's plan in Xinjiang is consistent: making it a lair of terrorists to sabotage China.
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