September 26, 2022
A group of 66 Uyghur organizations from 20 countries welcome a draft resolution tabled at the Human Rights Council calling for a debate on the Uyghur issue, and urges governments to support its passage.
“The international community must remember its obligation to end atrocity crimes like genocide and crimes against humanity,” said Dolkun Isa, President of the World Uyghur Congress. “Justice must be served.”
“Governments must seize this opportunity to finally respond to the abuses,” said Omer Kanat, Executive Director of the Uyghur Human Rights Project. “The UN now has a chance to give hope to a suffering people.”
A vote on the resolution will take place next week in Geneva. Its passage would be a notable step by the UN body to act on a ground-breaking report by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The High Commissioner found that abuses faced by Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples “may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.”
We continue to urge action on necessary steps to follow up on the report’s findings, calling on:
The UN Human Rights Council to take up the issue in a Special Session or Urgent Debate with the aim of establishing a Commission of Inquiry (COI) to independently examine the treatment of Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples;
The UN Special Procedures to consider evidence presented in the report and respond with recommendations for the UN and the international community;
The UN Office on Genocide Prevention to immediately conduct an assessment of the risks of atrocities—including genocide and crimes against humanity—targeting Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples, and to alert relevant actors and advocate for a proportionate response;
The ILO to take note of the report, include additional evidence of forced labour in its Committee of Experts annual report, and for delegates at the International Labour Conference to lodge a complaint against China for failure to uphold its obligations;
UNESCO to urgently investigate cases of destruction or marginalisation of natural and cultural heritage, including UNESCO-listed heritage (Muqam, Karez well system, Manas, Meshrep, and the Tianshan mountain range);
The global business community to immediately cut all ties with entities assisting the government to carry out the atrocities, especially the programs of high-tech surveillance and state-imposed forced labour; and
Governments and international organizations to take urgent steps to protect Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples at imminent risk of refoulement, in line with an urgent joint statement from 22 refugee and human rights groups and 50 Uyghur organizations.
We commend and warmly welcome the statement by 45 independent UN experts, who expressed their support for its findings and urged the Human Rights Council to hold a special session in response; to consider the creation of an expert—or panel of experts—to monitor and report on the human rights situation in China more broadly; for the General Assembly or Secretary-General to consider the creation of a special envoy; and for UN Member States and UN agencies and business enterprises to “demand that China fulfils its human rights obligations.”
Alberta Uyghur Association
Australian East Turkestan Association
Australian Uyghur Association
Australian Uyghur Tangritagh Women’s Association
Austria Uyghur Association
Belgium Uyghur Association
Blue Crescent Humanitarian Aid Association
Campaign for Uyghurs
Center for Uyghur Studies
Dutch Uyghur Human Rights Foundation
East Turkistan Association of Canada
East Turkistan Education and Solidarity Association
East Turkistan Entrepreneur Tradesmen and Industrialists Businessmen Association
Eastern Turkistan Foundation
East Turkistan Human Rights Watch
East Turkistan Nuzugum Culture and Family Association
East Turkestan Press and Media Association
East Turkistan Research Institute
East Turkistan Sports and Development Association
East Turkistan Union in Europe
East Turkestan Union of Muslim Scholars
European East Turkistan Education Association
Finnish Uyghur Culture Center
Furkan Education and Cooperation Association
Hira Education Association
Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Science and lore Foundation
Institute of China Studies
Isa Yusup Alptekin Foundation
Japan Uyghur Association
Justice 4 Uyghurs
Knowledge and Service Solidarity and Cooperation Association
Norwegian Uyghur Committee
Satuq Bugrakhan Foundation of Science and Civilization
Society Union of Uyghur National Association
Stop Uyghur Genocide Australia
Stop Uyghur Genocide UK
Sweden Uyghur Union
Swiss Uyghur Association
Taklamakan Uyghur Publish House
Uighur Society “Ittipak” of the Kyrgyz Republic
UK Uyghur Community
Uyghur Academy
Uyghur Academy Australia
Uyghur Academy Canada
Uyghur Academy Europe
Uyghur Academy Foundation
Uyghur Academy Japan
Uyghur Academy USA
Uyghur American Association
Uyghur Center for Human Rights and Democracy
Uyghur Cultural and Educational Foundation
Uyghur Cultural and Education Union in Germany
Uyghur Hjelp
Uyghur Human Rights Project
Uyghur PEN Center
Uyghur Projects Foundation
Uyghur Refugee Relief Fund
Uyghur Research Institute
Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project
Uyghur Science and Civilization Research Foundation
Uyghur Science and Education Foundation
Uyghur Transitional Justice Database
Uyghur Youth Union in Kazakhstan
Victoria Uyghur Association
World Uyghur Congress
World Uyghur Congress Foundation
Source: uhrp.org