CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 11, 2025, 5:00 PM EST
Contact: contact@campaignforuyghurs.org
https://campaignforuyghurs.org/

Uyghur Genocide Resistance: Honoring Uyghur Identity and Confronting the Ongoing Genocide

Washington, D.C. – On December 10, 2025, the Uyghur Academy and Campaign for Uyghurs, together with 18 international partner organizations, convened a high-level conference on Capitol Hill titled “Uyghur Genocide Resistance.” The gathering brought together policymakers, researchers, human rights advocates, and members of the Uyghur diaspora to spotlight the ongoing genocide in East Turkistan and honor the resilience of the Uyghur community.

The event coincided with a week of deep significance for the Uyghur community, aligning with Uyghur Genocide Remembrance Day on December 9, International Human Rights Day on December 10, and the 40th anniversary of the 1985 Uyghur Student Protests in Ürümchi on December 12. 

The main program opened with remarks from Dr. Rishat Abbas, President of the Uyghur Academy, and powerful speeches from prominent leaders and advocates, including Representative John Moolenaar, Chair of the Select Committee on China; Representative Chris Smith, Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) and Co-Chair of the Congressional Uyghur Caucus; Representative Tom Suozzi, Co-Chair of the Congressional Uyghur Caucus; Representative Joe Wilson, Chair of the U.S. Helsinki Commission; Dr. Eric Paterson, President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation; Kimber Shearer, Executive Vice President of the International Republican Institute; Luke de Pulford, Executive Director of Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, and Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet.

The conference continued with four panel discussions addressing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) genocide and state-imposed forced labor, religious persecution, and transnational repression, Uyghur identity and cultural resilience, and the 1985 Uyghur student movement in Ürümchi. Panelists shared personal experiences, presented research findings, and offered policy recommendations to address these critical issues.

The evening program showcased traditional art, music, and cultural heritage, offering a powerful reminder of what is at stake as the Chinese government works to erase Uyghur identity and culture.

“The ongoing Uyghur genocide has an impact on us all across the globe, from AI surveillance, silenced voices, to tainted supply chains. This conference was essential to raise awareness, reinforce accountability, and defend human dignity. The enduring Uyghur spirit, and our ongoing advocacy despite transnational repression, underscore the urgent need to confront these atrocities and protect freedom everywhere…while we continue resisting the CCP’s ongoing crimes, it is essential that all Uyghur organizations worldwide work together in true collaboration, unity, and solidarity,” noted CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas. 

The conference highlighted the ongoing human rights crisis facing the Uyghur community and the importance of sustained international advocacy. Through panel discussions, personal testimonies, and the cultural exhibition, the gathering reinforced the need for concrete policy measures, accountability, and continued global attention to ensure that the voices and rights of Uyghurs are recognized and protected. 

This event was organized with the strong support of the Australian Uyghur Association; Center for Uyghur Studies; Drexel University; East Turkistan Association of Canada; East Turkistan Research Foundation; George Washington University; International Campaign for Tibet; International Republican Institute; National Democratic Institute; National Endowment for Democracy; Swiss Uyghur Association; Uyghur American Association; Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights; Uyghur European Culture Centre; Uyghur Human Rights Project; Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project; Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation; and the World Uyghur Congress.