CFU PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2024, 1:00 PM
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https://campaignforuyghurs.org

Washington, D.C. — Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU) solemnly marks the third anniversary of Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day and the 76th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. On December 9, 2021, the independent Uyghur Tribunal in London, United Kingdom, relying on the extensive evidence and testimonies provided by experts, camp survivors, diaspora members, human rights activists, and a former Chinese police officer from Urumchi, concluded that the crimes being conducted against the Uyghurs in East Turkistan constitute the highest crime humanity has defined: Genocide.

In addition to the Uyghur Tribunal, the U.S. government and parliaments in over ten countries have also recognized that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is committing genocide and crimes against humanity against the Uyghur and Turkic communities in the Uyghur region. In August 2022, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)’s report substantiated abuses, including torture, mass arbitrary detention, and family separations and concluded that the Chinese government’s actions “may amount to crimes against humanity.” 

Over the past three years, the Uyghur genocide has continued unabated despite the mounting evidence substantiating the CCP’s crimes. The unjust imprisonment of Uyghurs continues, with research indicating that the Chinese government has sentenced Uyghurs to a cumulative total of 4.4 million years in prison. Dr. Adrian Zenz’s findings revealed that state-imposed Uyghur forced labor is expected to persist at least through 2025, with seafood and pharmaceuticals now added to the growing list of industries with supply chains linked to Uyghur forced labor. Meanwhile, Uyghur heritage and identity are near extinction due to the CCP’s assimilation policies. Recent findings show the government has renamed hundreds of Uyghur villages, replacing Uyghur religious, historical, and cultural references with names that align with the Chinese government’s ideologies. 

Reflecting on Uyghur Genocide Recognition Day and the 76th anniversary of the Genocide Convention, CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas stated: “Today is a stark reminder of the ongoing human rights abuses endured by the Uyghur people and our failed promises under the Genocide Convention. The independent tribunal confirmed the CCP’s genocide and underscored the urgency to act. Such determination and awareness require actions to drive meaningful change. Failing to do so undermines the Convention and our commitment to ‘Never Again.’ The international community must move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps to end China’s ongoing Uyghur genocide.” 

CFU stands in solidarity with the Uyghur community and invites all parties to reflect on the core purpose of the Genocide Convention—to prevent and punish the crime of genocide. The ongoing situation in East Turkistan is a testament to the world’s responsibility to uphold this commitment and obligation.

To honor this occasion, CFU, ​​Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, International Service for Human Rights, and U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva have organized an event titled Stories of the Disappeared: A Film Screening & Panel on Uyghur Human Rights in Geneva to shed light on the plight of the Uyghur people, amplify the voices of victims and their families, and foster a global dialogue on justice and accountability.