Press Release – For immediate Release
11 July 2023
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
+49 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

On July 10, the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity announced the first beneficiaries of its inaugural grant-making cycle. The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) together with the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) and Jewish World Watch (JWW) are amongst the grantees of the activist portfolio. Together the three organizations will host a conference in New York focused on the international response to the Uyghur genocide. This conference aims to foster collaboration, support current efforts of Uyghur activism, and discuss new ways to engage the Jewish community and other members of the public. 

“The World Uyghur Congress is extremely honoured to receive the Elie Wiesel grant alongside its partners,” said Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress. “It is our collective moral and legal obligation to end the ongoing Uyghur genocide and I highly value the Jewish community’s unwavering support for Uyghurs.”  

The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity was founded by Elie Wiesel and his wife Marion after he received the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize. The Foundation’s mission is rooted in the memory of the Holocaust and aims to combat indifference, intolerance and injustice. The Foundation is now led by Marion and Elie’s son Elisha Wiesel. The Foundation’s inaugural grant-making initiative was first launched in October 2022 and supports organizations, whose efforts reflect the values and legacy of Elie Wiesel, as an educator, journalist, activist, student and man of faith. The activist portfolio in this year focuses on organizations, whose commitment lies in the advocacy for the Uyghur community.

“Our inaugural Activist Portfolio grants are laser-focused towards advocates working purposefully and urgently towards restoring the rights and dignity of the Uyghur population”, said Elisha Wiesel, Chairman of the Foundation.