Every year the Uzbek government forces more than a million of its own citizens to harvest cotton in one of the world’s largest systems of state-sponsored forced labor. Despite well-documented violation of human rights, the World Bank is providing more than $500 million in financing to the government of Uzbekistan for projects in agriculture. Contracts between the Bank and Uzbek government state forced or child labor in the project areas is grounds for suspending funds. Yet despite reports from independent monitors that documented both forced and child labor, confirmed by the ILO, the World Bank has yet to suspend its loans!

ILRF joined with Cotton Campaign allies Walk Free and Anti-Slavery International to launch a petition demanding the World Bank cease this funding until the Uzbek government stops its systematic use of forced labor. We gathered more than 143,000 signatures, and our partners at the Uzbek-German Rights Forum delivered it to the World Bank on behalf of Uzbek civil society activists. The World Bank is taking notice of this pressure. Help us get this exciting news out to keep it going:

1.        Spread the Word! Please watch our new campaign video, share with your friends and encourage them to take action! Here’s some messaging to get you started:

E-mail message: Hi! I just saw this video about the World Bank investing in agricultural projects that support forced labor in Uzbekistan. There is a global movement to stop this. Recently, Uzbek civil society activists delivered a petition with more than 143,000 signatures to the World Bank demanding it cease funding that perpetuates forced labor. You can learn more here.

Facebook share: The World Bank is funding projects that support forced labor in Uzbekistan, but the people are fighting back! Recently, Uzbek civil society activists delivered a petition with more than 143,000 signatures to the World Bank demanding it cease this funding to the Uzek government, which carries out this forced labor system. Join us by watching a campaign video to learn more! www.laborrights.org/WBvideo

·* Sample tweets:

o   Video highlights @WorldBank support for #ForcedLabor in #Uzbekistan. Take a look, and learn more! www.laborrights.org/WBvideo

o   Video from @cottoncampaign asks @WorldBank to stop support for #ForcedLabor in #Uzbekistan! Watch & RT to join them! www.laborrights.org/WBvideo

o   .@WorldBank must suspend #ForcedLabor funds in #Uzbekistanwww.laborrights.org/WBvideo @cottoncampaign @ILRF @walkfree #cottoncrimes