London, United Kingdom (CNN) — Amnesty International and the advocacy group Avaaz have written to FIFA, the world governing body, to demand compensation for migrant workers at the World Cup in Qatar, according to an open letter published Monday.
A letter “containing more than a million signatures on a petition collected by Avaaz and Amnesty International in 190 countries,” along with custom-designed T-shirts, was delivered to the FIFA Museum in Zurich on Monday.
FIFA is set to hold its annual congress in Kigali, Rwanda, where incumbent President Gianni Infantino will stand unopposed for a third consecutive term.
“This meeting provides yet another opportunity for FIFA to make adjustments and set a plan and firm schedule to directly and promptly compensate the workers and their families, who have suffered horrific human rights abuses, in staging the World Cup on which their sacrifice is built,” said Steve Cockburn, Head of the Economic and Social Justice Program at Amnesty International. .
Cockburn added: “Workers suffered appalling abuses to help organize a World Cup tournament that has brought in billions of dollars for FIFA, but also brought a human cost in debt-ridden families and worker deaths. While nothing can replace the loss of a loved one, there is no doubt I have FIFA has the resources to help redress these grievances and provide life-changing support to workers and their families.”
“Our letter has been supported by more than a million signatures from over 190 countries,” said Pita Andemariam, Avaaz US Legal Director. “The global public has recognized the grave injustice done to these workers and has united to demand that FIFA take a fraction of the billions of dollars that have been raised.” Earned from the sweat, blood and lives of hundreds of thousands of these victims – and simply giving it to them and the families they owe.”
CNN has reached out to FIFA for comment.
On the eve of the World Cup, FIFA announced a legacy fund “for the benefit of those most in need”, but human rights groups have previously indicated that this does not include any provision for workers’ compensation.
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