WHO IS THE UOKG?

The Union of Victims’ Associations of Communist Tyranny e.V. (UOKG) is the umbrella organization for more than thirty associations and initiatives of those persecuted by communism in East and West Germany. It was founded in 1991 and is based in...

04. März 2025

WHAT HAS THE UOKG ALREADY ACHIEVED IN RECOGNIZING THE CONSEQUENCES OF FORCED PRISON LABOR?

On January 30, 2025, the Bundestag voted on the amendment of the so-called SED Rehabilitation Act, and the Bundesrat approved it on February 14, 2025. Finally, the long-standing demands of the UOKG and its members are being implemented. In addition...

04. März 2025

HOW CAN THE UOKG PROVE THAT ALDI BENEFITED FROM THE SYSTEM OF FORCED PRISON LABOR?

A research project initiated by the UOKG in 2023, funded by the BKM, and conducted by Humboldt University (HU) Berlin, was able to demonstrate that proving complete supply chains from East to West, while complex, is possible in a large...

04. März 2025

WHY IS FORCED LABOR IN GDR PRISONS PROBLEMATIC? AREN’T PRISONERS IN FRG ALSO OBLIGED TO WORK?

The German Basic Law explicitly declares forced labor permissible in cases of imprisonment. What makes forced labor in the GDR problematic is, on the one hand, the large number of people imprisoned in GDR prisons for political reasons, who were...

04. März 2025

WHY IS THE UOKG FOCUSING ON ALDI IN ITS #againstforcedlabor PROTEST?

We expect all companies that have at any point benefited from forced labor, or still do, to disclose this disgrace and face their responsibility. This clearly includes ALDI. However, we also see, for example, the mail order giant OTTO as having an...

04. März 2025

HOW HAVE ALDI NORD + SÜD RESPONDED SO FAR?

ALDI claims that the deliveries from the Hoheneck prison only became known to the company in 2013, and due to the time passed, it is not possible "to process the details to the extent necessary for further clarification and final...

04. März 2025