Press Release – For immediate release
23 August 2021
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
0049 (0) 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) will convene its 7th General Assembly, from November 12-14, 2021, in Prague, Czech Republic. This decision was reached by the WUC Executive Committee, together with its affiliate organisations, during meetings in the second week of July. Every three years, a general election is held to elect new WUC representatives, including its President. Initially, the 7th General Assembly was scheduled for November 2020, but it was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Yesterday, 210 delegates from 25 countries were democratically elected from a total of 320 candidates. These delegates will convene at the General Assembly in November to be elected for the 16 different committees and board membership, including presidency

To organize the 7th General Assembly, the WUC’s Presidential Office has put together an action plan in line with the Executive Committee’s decisions. Per this decision, a ‘’preparation committee’’ has been created, along with five sub-committees. During a virtual meeting of the Executive Committee on July 7, the following decisions were reached unanimously:

1. The General Assembly will take place from November 12-14, 2021 in Prague.
2. The General Assembly will take place in a hybrid format, in-person and virtually for those who are not able to attend, due to COVID-19 regulations.
3. The number of delegates for the General Assembly will be 210 people from 25 countries.
4. The nomination process started the first week of July. Any Uyghur above 18 who meets the criteria can be nominated.
5. The delegates in each country will be democratically elected on August 22, 2021.
6. The elected delegates will convene in Prague to be elected for the 16 different committees and for board membership, including the presidency. 
7. During the General Assembly, international experts, observers, NGOs, politicians and scholars will be invited.

During the General Assembly, all sixteen committees of the WUC and its representatives will report on the organisation’s activities from 2017-2021, as well as the financial report of the past four years. Following this, the current board members, including the President, will step down from their positions, and the newly elected delegates will run for board positions and presidency. After the results of the elections have been announced during the General Assembly, the following day(s) will then consist of meetings with the newly elected board and president, in order to plan and strategize on the organisation’s priorities and activities for the next three years.

The WUC Executive Committee has further decided to reform the electoral system for the 7th General Assembly. This upcoming election will be more inclusive by providing more opportunities for youth representatives and women. It will also allow for independent activists, and those who are not working for or among local Uyghur organisations, to run for candidacy. The election will be closely monitored and audited by independent observers. International (civil society) organisations, members of parliament from different countries, and supporters of the Uyghur cause will be invited to the General Assembly; international media are welcomed to cover the election process.