CFU PRESS RELEASE   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

October 19, 4:00 PM ET

Sabrina Sohail: sabrina@campaignforuyghurs.org    

(650) 703-4523   

https://www.campaignforuyghurs.org   

Campaign For Uyghurs (CFU), commends the joint statement issued by 51 countries at the UN Third Committee, addressing the grave human rights violations in East Turkistan. The 51 countries that signed this statement are Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Nauru, Netherlands, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Norway, Palau, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Marshall Islands, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tuvalu, Ukraine, United States, and the United Kingdom which have boldly denounced the atrocities in East Turkistan.

The joint statement shines a spotlight on the continuous and severe violations being inflicted upon the Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim communities by the Chinese regime. These violations include arbitrary detentions, forced labor, cultural assimilation, intrusive surveillance, forced population control measures, separation of children from families, enforced disappearances and even psychological, physical and sexual torture. The independent Assessment by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), which relied extensively on China’s own records, provides compelling evidence of these large-scale abuses and states the CCP’s actions may constitute crimes against humanity.

Executive Director, Rushan Abbas, expressed appreciation, saying, “The international community must stand together to confront the alarming human rights abuses taking place in East Turkistan. Whilst I commend the statement it is crucial that we reassess the strategies and diplomatic channels utilized to enhance international cooperation and ensure concrete actions are taken to address the atrocities occurring in East Turkistan. Unfortunately, engaging in mere statements, calling on China to cease its atrocities, is not enough, we need action.”

As we reflect on the statement, we must draw attention to the ineffectiveness of the United Nations in addressing this crisis. In July 2019, 22 countries issued a joint letter to the UNHRC, condemning China’s mass detention of Uyghurs and other ethnicities. Despite CFU’s dedicated advocacy for the past several years, it is disheartening to witness China’s reelection to the Human Rights Council while they openly commit crimes against humanity and genocidal policies. Additionally, the inability to secure even a vote on a resolution to discuss the report highlights the challenges and limitations we face in holding accountable those responsible. It raises the question of why we did not see another resolution brought forward for voting this year.

CFU continues to call on China to put an end to the genocide in East Turkistan, engage constructively with the OHCHR, uphold the guidelines of International Law as outlined through the genocide convention and fully implement the essential recommendations outlined in the assessment. It is a moral imperative for the international community to stand united, demanding justice and an end to the suffering endured by the Uyghurs.