PRESS STATEMENT – for immediate release
12.06.2023
Contact: World Uyghur Congress www.uyghurcongress.org
+49 89 5432 1999 or [email protected]

The World Uyghur Congress (WUC) is deeply saddened by the death of Marino Busdachin, former General Secretary (2003-2018) of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO), and supporter of Uyghur rights.

Mr Busdachin was a fervent defender of human rights, who actively engaged in the promotion of human, civil and political rights since the 1970s. As a member and representative of the Italian Radical Party, of which he was a member until his death, Mr Busdachin worked on various campaigns for the establishment of ad hoc international tribunals to prosecute war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Furthermore, he supported the fight for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty at the United Nations through his involvement with the Radical Party.

As General Secretary of the UNPO, he advocated strongly for the right to self-determination, and the rights of oppressed and unrepresented peoples around the world. “Mr Busdachin was a powerful ally to the Uyghur people, whose tireless efforts in advocating for the fundamental rights of Uyghurs will not be forgotten”, says WUC President Dolkun Isa. “The WUC will continue to remember Mr Busdachin’s efforts for the Uyghurs, his view on human rights, and his great willingness to stand by nations and peoples who continue to face gross injustices”.

The Uyghur community is grateful for his valuable contributions of advancing the Uyghur cause internationally. Our thoughts are with his family and friends all over the world.