SAI joins eight fellow organizations connected to the garment, footwear, and accessories industry in a statement expressing profound concern about the military coup and violent crackdown in Myanmar beginning February 1, 2021.
We urge the military to respect the results of the November elections and we call for a quick and peaceful restoration of the legitimate civilian government. All those detained during this period must be released immediately. Internet service should be restored and the proposed legal restrictions on internet activity should be rejected as they are harmful to freedom of expression and assembly.
This statement also calls on companies sourcing from Myanmar to enhance due diligence and supply chain monitoring and on brands to immediately conduct due diligence in their supply chains to identify whether they are doing business with companies owned or controlled by military services in Myanmar. We urge all brands and companies to engage proactively with suppliers in Myanmar and strive to honor all existing commitments and ensure workers are paid fully, in addition to other responsible sourcing practices.