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Announcement: WUC to Hold Youth Training Seminar in Washington, DC

Announcement: WUC to Hold Youth Training Seminar in Washington, DC

Press Release – For immediate release
31 March 2015
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
0049 (0) 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

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The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) under the co-sponsorship of the Uyghur American Association (UAA) and the International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation, and with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) will convene a youth training seminar that will take place in Washington, DC, from May 6-8, 2015.

The workshop will open with a ceremony on Capitol Hill (at the Capitol Visitor Center, Room SVC 203-02 on the Senate side) on May 6th to begin the workshop and to acquaint the participants with the heart of the American political system. Participants will then meet at the National Endowment for Democracy conference centre (1025 F Street NW, Washington D.C. 20004) to begin an intensive seminar that will focus on European-based human rights bodies so as to familiarize the participants with the most relevant and effective means for engagement.

The seminar will provide a unique opportunity for members of the Uyghur diaspora from around the world to strengthen understanding of the EU system and to help bolster the capacity of Uyghur youth leaders to educate local stakeholders on issues relating to human rights and democracy promotion. The workshop will focus on advocacy at the EU institutions and at the EU level in general. Participants will also learn what the US is doing in relation to the human rights situation in China.

Practical experience for the participants will also be gained through a session on the third day to personally engage with US Congressmen and women on Capitol Hill – to pose questions and discuss ideas for how Uyghurs can get more involved with various human rights instruments in the US and Europe. This portion of the seminar will complement the more theoretical aspects taught in the first two days.

Past seminars have focused on highlighting many of the current and persistent problems Uyghurs consistently in East Turkestan so that participants are able to develop a context-specific approach to possible solutions. These past courses have also primarily focused on UN human rights mechanisms as opposed to the European system.

Further details will be provided as the event approaches.