NEWS

International Uyghur Forum Successfully Concluded
Between October 30-31, the Japan-Uyghur Parliamentary Caucus (JUPC), the Japanese parliamentary caucus to investigate and take action on human rights abuses committed by China (JPCHC) and the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) in cooperation with the Japan Uygur Association (JUA) and the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) successfully concluded the International Uyghur Forum at the National Diet of Japan. The IUF brought together over 150 global policymakers, academics, civil society representatives, and Uyghur community members, including camp survivors, who over the course of two-days focused on strategies, legal avenues and accountability measures to address the current Uyghur genocide, as well as the erosion of democratic systems in Hong Kong, military tensions in the vicinity of Taiwan, and China’s threat to peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. 

On the last day of the International Uyghur Forum, a Declaration was developed which includes a variety of recommendations and tangible actions, on how the international community can bring an end to the Uyghur genocide. 

World Uyghur Congress Attends World Liberty Congress General Assembly
On November 6, the World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa and the Director of Global Advocacy, Zumretay Arkin, together with U.S. Chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, Nury Turkel, Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project, Omer Kanat and Secretary of the Taiwan Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, Wu’er Kaixi attended World Liberty Congress General Assembly in Vilnius, Lithuania. 

World Uyghur Congress President, Dolkun Isa and Secretary of the Taiwan Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, Wu’er Kaixi were both elected to the World Liberty Congress Leadership Council representing the Asia-Pacific region.

Civil Society Organisations Issue Joint Statement to U.S. President
On November 8, the World Uyghur Congress together with 58 other civil society organisations issued a joint letter urging U.S. President, Joe Biden to prioritise human rights when speaking to Chinese President, Xi Jinping during the APEC Summit from November 15-17 in San Francisco. In the letter, the human rights groups called on the Biden administration to highlight the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs and other Turkic people in East Turkistan and mention the lack of progress of the human rights situation in the region. Additionally, the forced separation of 1 million Tibetan children from their families through the residential boarding school system; violating people’s fundamental rights by attacking academics, lawyers, journalists and activists in Hong Kong; and oppression against the Chinese Falun Gong practitioners, were also raised. 

Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise Launches Investigation into Zara Canada Inc.
On November 6, the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE) announced their independent fact-finding investigation into Zara Canada Inc., on allegations of Uyghur forced labour in the company’s supply chain. The decision was made after the completion of an Initial Assessment report, which details allegations that Zara Canada Inc. has sourcing links to Chinese companies identified as using or benefitting from Uyghur forced labour. Despite the report’s findings the company denies the allegations and stated that it doesn’t have commercial connections to any factory in East Turkistan. 

PARTICIPATE

Ask Volkswagen to Close its Plant in East Turkistan
Despite growing evidence of the ongoing genocide against the Uyghurs, Volkswagen continues to operate in East Turkistan. The World Uyghur Congress is collecting signatures to demand Volkswagen to close down its plant in Urumqi. Please sign here!

Support Uyghurs’ Genocide & Crimes Against Humanity Case in Argentina
The World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Human Rights Project have launched a criminal case in the courts of Argentina in relation to the international crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity being committed against the Uyghur people. Please donate and be a part of this historic case.