The Chinese government has detained more than one million Uyghurs, a Turkic ethnic group native to the Xinjiang autonomous region in Northwest China, across almost 400 "reeducation" camps. Detainees are put through abuse -- to rid of their religious thoughts, undergo Communist propaganda, and labor. There have been reports of forced sterilization to end the Uyghur population. The Chinese government says that this is a “necessary” step to crack down on domestic terrorism and Islamic extremism, and solidify and promote the Han (the ethnic majority of China).

China is the source of nearly half of all cotton fabric exported around the world, and Xinjiang is the source of 85 percent of China’s cotton. Many of this cotton is harvested through the forced labor of Uyghurs. 83 major brands have been implicated in sourcing cotton through this inhumane way, including Nike, Adidas, Puma, Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, and H&M. Although the U.S. has implemented a Xinjiang cotton ban and all imported products made with Xinjiang cotton, global fashion brands like H&M have a difficult time cutting all ties due to pressure from the Chinese -- if they want to preserve the Chinese market, they must use cotton from forced labor. 

At this point, companies are forced to choose between their North America/European market, and the Chinese market. Signing this petition would force them to respond to the Western market, pressuring them to prioritize people over profits. It's time to stand up for human rights.